Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, a volcano in south-central Indonesia, erupted on Tuesday, sending massive plumes of hot ash high into the sky. In response, authorities elevated the eruption alert status to its highest level and extended the exclusion zone to 8 kilometers (about 5 miles) from the crater.
According to Indonesia’s Geology Agency, the volcano discharged thick grey ash clouds reaching up to 10,000 meters (about 32,800 feet) into the atmosphere. This followed a sharp increase in volcanic activity, with 50 eruptions recorded in just two hours — far above the usual daily range of 8 to 10.
The ash cloud took on a dramatic mushroom shape and was visible from cities located as far as 90 to 150 kilometers (roughly 56 to 93 miles) from the volcano.
No casualties have been reported at this time. However, residents have been advised to remain on alert, particularly for the risk of lava flows that could be triggered by heavy rainfall in river systems connected to the volcano.
This latest eruption follows several earlier events. A major eruption in November last year resulted in the deaths of nine people and injuries to many others. The volcano also showed activity as recently as March.
Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, standing at 1,584 meters (5,197 feet), is part of a twin volcano system with Mount Lewotobi Perempuan, located in Flores Timur district.
Indonesia, home to over 270 million people, is highly prone to seismic and volcanic activity. It has around 120 active volcanoes and lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a zone known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
