At least 10 people are dead after a series of volcanic eruptions in the remote Indonesian island of Flores.
On Nov. 4, Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted, spewing thick brownish ash 2,000 meters into the sky. The hot ashes subsequently hit a number of villages, burning down several houses, including a Catholic convent.
According to Firman Yosef, an official who monitors Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, the volcanic material was hurled 3.7 miles from its crater, forcing residents to flee as the debris blanketed nearby towns and villages.
A spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Agency said rescue teams are still looking for bodies buried under destroyed buildings. So far, the bodies that have been found were discovered within 2.4 miles of the crater.
In total, ten villages were affected by the volcanic eruptions – four in Ile Bura area and six in the Wulanggitang District. While some residents have fled to relatives’ homes, the government is also preparing local temporary shelters.
As the series of eruptions became more frequent, the national volcano monitoring agency changed the volcano’s alert status to the highest level. The exclusion zone was also increased to a 4.3 mile radius.
Agusta Palma, who overseas most of the Catholic convents on the island, said one nun was found deceased in Hokeng village while another is still missing.
On social media, several videos of the ordeal can be seen, with volcanic debris covering entire buildings. Several houses were also set aflame by the hot volcanic material.
In January, nearly 6,500 people evacuated the area after Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki – one of two stratovolcanoes in East Flores – started erupting. The government also closed the airport on the island. While no major damage or casualties were reported, the airport has not yet re-opened due to seismic activity.
On Monday, the head of Geology Agency Muhammad Wafid, said the eruptions on Monday differed from those in January, with the latter having been due to the accumulation of built up pressure.
It’s the second volcanic eruption in Indonesia, after Mount Marapi, one of the most active volcanoes in the country, erupted on Oct. 27, covering nearby towns and villages with ash and debris. Fortunately, there were no casualties.
Lewotobi Laki-laki, which is located in the southeastern part of Flores, Indonesia, is one of 120 active volcanoes in the country.
In addition to volcanic eruptions, the Southeast Asian country is also prone to landslides and earthquakes, as it sits along the ‘Ring of Fire’ – a 25,000 mile long ‘ring’ that is home to 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes and 75 percent of the planet’s volcanic activity.
