Indonesian officials have raised the alert level to its highest following a series of powerful eruptions from Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki on Flores Island.
The volcano erupted eight times over the weekend and continued to spew ash and lava on Monday, according to Reuters. Indonesia’s volcanology agency recorded ash plumes between 3 and 5.5 kilometers high on Sunday, prompting officials to increase the alert level as of 8 p.m. local time.
Ongoing Activity and Warnings
The agency posted dramatic video of thick grey ash clouds gushing out of the crater, accompanied by rumbling noises of different magnitudes. The volcano was still erupting on Monday morning, blowing ash up to 1.2 kilometers high.
Authorities have erected a six-kilometer no-go area around the crater and are requesting individuals to avoid the area. Inhabitants of the surrounding regions have also been advised to wear face masks to protect themselves from volcanic ash in the air.
No flight cancellations or evacuations have been officially announced yet.
Previous Eruptions and Hazards
Lewotobi Laki-laki has erupted before with catastrophic consequences.
An eruption in March led to the cancellation of several flights to and from Bali, while an eruption in November last year resulted in at least nine deaths and the displacement of thousands more.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of heightened seismic activity that experiences a high volume of earthquakes and volcanic activity. The country has approximately 130 active volcanoes, so the threat of such activity is ever-present.
