Lewotobi Laki-Laki on Flores: Indonesian volcano spews 18,000-meter-high ash column
On the Indonesian island of Flores, the Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano erupted again, spewing a massive column of ash approximately 18,000 meters into the sky. The eruption, which occurred at 11:00 a.m. (local time), was accompanied by a loud explosion and pyroclastic flows that moved approximately five kilometers north and northeast of the crater, according to the Indonesian Volcanology and Geological Hazards Administration (PVMBG).
This is a mixture of hot gas, ash, rock, and lava that is flowing down the slope of the volcano at high speed. There were initially no reports of injuries or deaths. However, according to authorities, the eruption is still ongoing, so further explosions are possible. Experts also warned of the possibility of lahars – volcanic mudslides that can be extremely fast and dangerous.
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The 1,584-meter-high Lewotobi Laki-Laki is the twin volcano of the 1,703-meter-high Lewotobi Perempuan and has been active again since 2023. The peaks of the two mountains are about two kilometers apart. The last major eruption occurred in mid-June. In November 2024, the volcano hurled glowing rocks for kilometers, killing ten people under the rubble of their burning homes.
Are there flight cancellations again?Thousands were forced to flee and housed in evacuation centers. In November, as well as after an eruption in March, numerous flights to and from Bali were canceled. The popular holiday island is only about 500 kilometers from the volcano. It was still unclear whether air traffic would be affected this time as well.
As a precautionary measure, a six-kilometer-radius exclusion zone was established around the volcano. Residents and visitors were advised to avoid the area.
The world's largest island nation, Indonesia, lies on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, the most geologically active zone on Earth. The island of Flores, located east of Bali, is popular with tourists from all over the world for its beautiful landscapes and diving spots.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:250707-930-766429/1
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