Indonesia Elevates Alert Level as Volcano Erupts Amid Tourist Concerns

One of Indonesia's prominently active volcanoes has erupted, leading to urgent safety alerts and the evacuation of nearby residents.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki became active on Tuesday, unleashing a significant ash cloud that reached over 11 kilometers high, compelling Indonesian officials to raise the country's alert level to its maximum. The eruption occurred at 17:35 local time (10:35 BST), discharging ash over the popular tourist destination of Flores.

In response to the eruptive event, authorities established a 7-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano, which rises 1,584 meters (approximately one mile) high. Fortunately, no immediate damages or injuries have been reported.

Muhammad Wafid, the head of the Geology agency, emphasized the danger of activities within the specified exclusion zone, warning residents to be prepared for potential lahar flows, particularly if heavy rain follows. As a precaution, locals were advised to wear face masks to shield against drifting volcanic ash.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency announced that an evacuation order has already been issued for at least one nearby village, with reports of ash depositations impacting additional areas beyond the exclusion zone.

Officials indicated that ongoing tremors were still being detected, suggesting the volcanic activity might persist. The last eruption from Lewotobi Laki-Laki occurred in May, at which point authorities had also escalated the alert level. The twin peaks of Lewotobi Laki-Laki and the taller, tranquil counterpart, Perempuan (meaning "woman" in Indonesian), continue to symbolize the dynamic geological landscape of Indonesia.