Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupts again in Indonesia
Authorities issue 6-kilometer exclusion zone after volcanic activity
The Indonesian volcano that erupted last year, killing nine people, has erupted again. Authorities have issued a ban on approaching within a 6-kilometer radius of the area.
On August 2, Yonhap News, citing AFP and other sources, reported that at approximately 8:48 p.m. the previous day, Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki (elevation 1,584 meters) on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, erupted.
The Indonesian Geological Agency explained that the eruption was caused by a buildup of gas over the past several weeks, stating, "The height of the volcanic ash plume was observed to reach 10 kilometers above the summit." Volcanic lightning was also observed at the top of the ash column.
So far, there have been no reported casualties or property damage. However, residents and tourists have been advised not to approach within a 6-kilometer radius of the crater.
Previously, Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted in November last year, resulting in the deaths of nine people and injuries to more than 60 others. Additionally, on July 7, the volcano erupted again, sending ash up to 18 kilometers into the sky.
The Lewotobi Lakilaki volcano on Flores Island, Indonesia, erupted last month, emitting smoke. Photo by AFP
As a result, at least 24 domestic and international flights were canceled at Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport. Flights connecting Bali with countries such as South Korea, Australia, and Singapore were primarily affected. In June, volcanic ash from this volcano also caused a large number of Bali-bound flights to be suspended, but operations resumed after one day.
Indonesia, which has 127 active volcanoes, is located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an area with frequent volcanic and seismic activity. It has been reported that if a major eruption occurs at an Indonesian volcano, a tsunami could reach Okinawa Prefecture in southern Japan several hours later due to atmospheric pressure waves.
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