Laki-laki volcano on Flores Island in Indonesia erupts
- Fahad Bin Khalid
- November 4, 2024
- 11:31 am
- 30
- Current Affairs
The Laki-laki volcano, part of the Mount Lewotobi complex on Indonesia's Flores Island, erupted on Sunday night. It caused tragedy and destruction. The eruption, which began at 11:57 p.m. local time, killed at least nine residents. It damaged homes and forced the evacuation of several villages. Indonesia is on the active Pacific "Ring of Fire." It has many volcanoes. Each eruption greatly affects those living near them.
The eruption spewed fiery lava, ash, and glowing rocks. Some reached nearby settlements just four kilometers from the crater. These fiery rocks damaged homes, burned some structures, and displaced residents. Chaos ensued. The PVMBG raised the volcano's alert to level IV, the highest. Authorities recommend a complete evacuation within seven kilometers of the crater.
Hadi Wijaya, a PVMBG spokesperson, called the scene harrowing. There was a power outage and a fierce lightning storm after the eruption. This added to the residents' panic, as many struggled to flee in the dark and chaotic conditions.
As of Monday morning, East Flores official Heronimus Lamawuran confirmed nine dead. The eruption affected seven nearby villages. The volcanic ash blanketed these villages, covering everything in gray. It made it hard for people to move around. Evacuations began Monday morning, with families moving to safer areas up to 20 kilometers away from the volcano.
Indonesian authorities are assessing the damage. This includes the number of homes affected and the total number of evacuees. The eruption has disrupted life on Flores Island. Families are in temporary shelters. They hope to return home once it is safe.
Indonesia's on the Pacific Ring of Fire. It's a region with frequent seismic activity due to shifting tectonic plates. It is at high risk for earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other geological events. This latest eruption is part of a series of volcanic activities in Indonesia this year. For example, in May, the Ruang volcano in North Sulawesi erupted. It forced over 12,000 people to evacuate. Earlier this year, the Mount Ibu volcano on Halmahera Island erupted, prompting evacuations. Also, a deadly flash flood from volcanic flow hit near Mount Marapi in West Sumatra earlier this year. It killed over 60 people and devastated nearby districts.
The Laki-laki eruption highlights the need for vigilance near Indonesia's volcanoes. With natural events happening more often, the Indonesian government and residents must be ready for future seismic and volcanic activities. volcanic activities.
