Jakarta: Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a volcano located on Indonesia's island of Flores, erupted again on Tuesday, sending a thick cloud of ash more than a kilometer into the sky following the authorities' decision to raise the alert level to its highest level.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the Volcanological Survey of Indonesia reported that the volcano began erupting shortly after midnight, spewing ash plumes up to 1.2 kilometers above its summit, with several additional eruptions occurring during the morning hours.
The agency confirmed that the volcano's alert status was elevated to Level IV, the highest in Indonesia's four-tier volcano warning system, due to sustained and heightened volcanic activity.
Head of Indonesian Geological Agency, Muhammad Wafid, stated that the volcanic activity at Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki remains elevated and warned of the potential for a larger eruption than previously recorded. His remarks came after a significant eruption on Sunday.
Wafid also reported that ash plumes had risen as high as six kilometers above the crater. He urged residents to wear face masks to avoid inhaling volcanic ash and advised the public to refrain from any activity within a six-kilometer radius of the volcano.
He further warned of possible lahar (volcanic mudflow) floods in the event of heavy rainfall, particularly in residential areas near rivers originating from the volcano's slopes.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki had previously erupted several times in November, resulting in nine fatalities, the cancellation of dozens of flights to Bali, and the evacuation of thousands of residents from surrounding communities.
Indonesia is located along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a region prone to frequent seismic and volcanic activity. The archipelago is home to over 120 active volcanoes spread across its islands.