Six people have died as a result of a volcanic eruption in eastern Indonesia

At least six people were killed after several eruptions at a volcano in eastern Indonesia overnight, officials said Monday, raising the alert level to the highest of the four-level system.

Mount Levotobi Laki Laki, located on the popular tourist island of Flores, spewed a tower of ash and lava onto nearby villages, which were forced to evacuate.

“According to our coordination with local authorities, six deaths have been confirmed,” Abdul Muhari, a spokesman for the country’s disaster management agency, told Kompas TV on Monday.

The video shows villages near the volcano covered in thick ash and some areas burning.

The country’s volcanological agency raised the alert level to the highest level and urged local residents and tourists not to carry out activities within a radius of seven kilometers from the crater.

“There is a significant increase in volcanic activity at Mount Levotobi Laki-laki,” the press release said.

It warned of the possibility of lava floods caused by rain and urged local residents to wear masks to avoid exposure to volcanic ash.

The mountain experienced several major eruptions in January, prompting authorities to raise the alert to the highest level and evacuate at least 2,000 residents.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent eruptions due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area of ​​intense volcanic and seismic activity. (AFP)