Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki Erupts Again, Ash Plumes Soar 18 km

BREAKING: Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki in Indonesia has erupted for the second consecutive day, releasing towering ash plumes up to 18 kilometers (11 miles) high early Saturday morning. Villages nearby are now blanketed in volcanic debris, prompting urgent warnings for residents.

The latest eruption occurred just hours after a dramatic explosion Friday evening, with ash clouds reaching 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) into the sky. Authorities confirmed that glowing lava and lightning illuminated the night sky, creating a scene of both beauty and danger.

In a span of less than five hours, the volcano unleashed a powerful avalanche of hot gas clouds, rocks, and lava, traveling as far as 5 kilometers (3 miles) down its slopes. Indonesia’s Geology Agency has reported that volcanic materials, including hot gravel the size of a thumb, were ejected up to 8 kilometers (5 miles) away from the crater, covering nearby towns and villages with thick volcanic ash.

Residents have been urged to remain vigilant as heavy rainfall could trigger dangerous lava flows from the volcano. The situation is critical, as today’s eruption marks one of the largest for Indonesia since the catastrophic eruption of Mount Merapi in 2010, which resulted in over 350 fatalities and forced mass evacuations.

Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, a 1,584-meter (5,197-foot) volcano located on the remote island of Flores, has been on the highest alert level since a previous eruption on June 18. Authorities have expanded the exclusion zone to a 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) radius as eruptions have become increasingly frequent.

This latest activity follows a significant eruption on July 7, which disrupted flights at Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport and covered roads and rice fields in mud and rocks. The Indonesian government has permanently relocated thousands of residents in response to a series of eruptions that killed nine people and destroyed thousands of homes in November.

Indonesia, home to over 280 million people, is situated along the “Ring of Fire,” a region notorious for its seismic activity and volcanic eruptions. With 120 active volcanoes, the threat to local communities remains high.

As the situation develops, residents and authorities are closely monitoring the volcano’s activity. Stay tuned for further updates as this story unfolds.