Indonesia Elevates Volcano Alert to Highest Level After Mount Lewotobi Eruption

Indonesian authorities have raised the alert status for Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki to the highest level following a significant volcanic eruption on the island of Flores. The volcano began spewing ash and lava on Tuesday, prompting emergency evacuations and disruptions to local air travel.

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation reported that the volcano released ash columns reaching up to 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) into the air. In response, the exclusion zone around the crater has been extended, and people living within a 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) radius have been advised to evacuate immediately.

Several villages in East Flores Regency are directly affected, and authorities are coordinating the evacuation of residents to safer areas. Emergency shelters have been set up, and local officials are monitoring the situation closely.

Airlines operating in the region have been instructed to avoid the area due to the volcanic ash cloud, which poses risks to aviation. Flight delays and cancellations have been reported, although no injuries or fatalities have been confirmed as of Wednesday.

Mount Lewotobi is one of Indonesia’s many active volcanoes. The country sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Sources: CNN, Newsday, AOL News