Six dead in Flores after volcanic eruption – Archipelago

At least six people were killed after a volcano in East Nusa Tenggara erupted several times overnight, officials said on 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 National Disaster Mitigation Agency, told Kompas TV on Monday.

Footage obtained by AFP shows villages near the volcano covered in thick ash, with some areas burning.

The country’s volcanological agency raised its alert level to its highest level and urged locals and tourists to stay away from activities within seven kilometers (4.3 miles) of the crater.

“Mt Levotobi Laki-laki is experiencing a significant increase in volcanic activity,” said a press release on Monday.

Levotobi Laki-laki erupted at 11:57 p.m. local time (15:57 GMT) on Sunday, spewing a fiery red column of lava, volcanic ash and red-hot rocks, Hadi Vijaya, spokesman for the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG). , said on Monday.

“After the eruption, there was a power outage, followed by rain and strong lightning, which caused panic among residents,” he told Reuters, adding that authorities had raised the volcano’s status to level IV or the highest.

The agency recommends a seven kilometer (4.35 mile) radius be cleared.

Lava and rocks hit nearby settlements about four kilometers (two miles) from the crater, burning and damaging residents’ homes, Hadi said.

As of Monday morning, at least nine people had died, said Geronimus Lamavuran, a local official in the East Flores district, adding that the eruption had affected seven villages.

“This morning we started evacuating residents to other villages located about 20 km (13 miles) from the crater,” he said.

The BNPB warned of the possibility of lava floods caused by rain and told 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.

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