Volcano erupts in Indonesia: 10 killed, thousands affected | WATCH

Maumere, Indonesia: At least ten people have been killed in a series of volcanic eruptions on the remote island of Flores, as of Monday. The latest eruption at Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki occurred just after midnight, sending thick brownish ash up to 2,000 metres (6,500 feet) into the sky and impacting nearby villages.

Damage to homes and communities

The hot ash from the eruption reached a nearby village, destroying several homes, including a convent for Catholic nuns, according to Firman Yosef, an official at the monitoring post for Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki. "The death toll from the Lewotobi Laki-Laki's eruption is now 10 people," the country's disaster mitigation agency spokesman Abdul Muhari told a press conference.

Ongoing assessments and rising danger levels

Authorities are still gathering information about casualties and damage, as local reports indicate that more people may be trapped under collapsed buildings. Due to the increasing frequency of eruptions, the danger level for Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki has been raised, and the exclusion zone has been expanded to a 7-kilometre (4.3-mile) radius.

Thousands affected by eruptions

The volcanic monitoring agency has increased the alert status to the highest level, noting that at least 10,000 people have been affected in the Wulanggitang District and surrounding villages. Villages such as Pululera, Nawokote, and Hokeng Jaya are among those impacted, with volcanic materials thrown as far as 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) from the crater, blanketing homes and forcing residents to evacuate.

Casualties and ongoing efforts

Tragically, a nun in Hokeng village has died, and another is reported missing. Agusta Palma, head of the Saint Gabriel Foundation, confirmed this loss, highlighting the devastation in the majority-Catholic community. “Our nuns ran out in panic under a rain of volcanic ash in the darkness,” Palma said.

Social media has shown images and videos of houses buried under tons of volcanic debris in areas like Hokeng, where hot volcanic material set several homes on fire.

Recent eruptions in Indonesia

This incident marks Indonesia's second volcanic eruption in recent weeks. Just days before, Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted on October 27, sending thick ash clouds into the air and covering nearby villages, though no casualties were reported from that event.

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