Highest alert issued as Mount Lewotobi erupts eight times in Indonesia

Jakarta: Eastern Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki roared to life again this week, prompting authorities to raise its alert status to the country’s highest level after the volcano erupted eight times over the weekend. The series of powerful eruptions sent massive plumes of volcanic ash soaring into the sky, forcing thousands to brace for further activity.

The 1,584-metre (5,197-foot) volcano, located on Flores island, erupted early on Monday, spewing an ash cloud 1.2 kilometres above its crater. It erupted again at 9:36 a.m. local time, according to the volcanology agency.

On Sunday, the same volcano released ash columns reaching up to six kilometres high. The continuous activity led authorities to elevate the alert status to the top tier of Indonesia’s four-level volcanic alert system at 8 p.m. local time.

Muhammad Wafid, head of Indonesia’s geological agency, cautioned, “Lewotobi Laki-Laki’s activities are still high. The potential for a larger eruption than before can occur.”

He further warned that if heavy rainfall coincides with ongoing volcanic activity, the surrounding areas could face dangerous lahar flows—mud and debris flooding rivers originating from the volcano. “Our analysis showed that the activities of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki are still high so we raised the status level starting on Sunday at 08:00 p.m. (1200 GMT),” he said.

Photos released by the agency captured dense grey ash clouds billowing from the crater. Loud rumblings of varying intensity were heard from the nearest monitoring post during the eruptions.

Residents have been advised not to enter within a six-kilometre radius of the volcano, and to wear masks to protect against ash inhalation. The agency reiterated the need for caution, particularly in regions where rivers flowing from the peak could trigger cold lava flows during downpours.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, which means “man” in Indonesian, is one of a pair of volcanoes—the other being the taller and less active Mount Lewotobi Perempuan, named after the Indonesian word for “woman.”

In recent months, the volcano has displayed consistent activity. In March, it forced several airlines—including Australia’s Jetstar and Qantas Airways—to cancel or delay flights to Bali. In January, nearby Mount Ibu in Halmahera triggered the evacuation of over 3,000 people after a major eruption sent ash four kilometres into the sky.

Last November, eruptions from Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki resulted in the deaths of nine people and caused mass evacuations, alongside widespread flight disruptions in Bali.

Indonesia, an archipelago nation with more than 120 active volcanoes, sits atop the Pacific “Ring of Fire”—a zone known for its intense seismic and volcanic activity.

(With inputs from AFP, Reuters)