A volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted overnight, killing at least ten people as it spewed fireballs and ash on surrounding villages. Officials raised the alert status to its highest level.
The crater of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki spewed thick brownish ash more than 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) into the air shortly after midnight. The ash hit a village, burning down several houses, including a convent of Catholic nuns, an official at the volcano’s monitoring post said.
Authorities are continuing to evacuate residents of villages near the mountain. But it’s been difficult because many villagers ignored warnings. Some want to stay with their livestock and crops, while others are afraid of losing their homes, which are built on the slopes of the volcano.
Thousands of villagers have been moved to shelters on the island of Flores. The disaster mitigation agency has appealed for mats, blankets, and washing supplies to help those who remain behind. It also warned that the eruption could trigger more earthquakes.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where tectonic plates collide, causing frequent volcanic activity and earthquakes. In December, an eruption of the country’s most active volcano, Mount Marapi in West Sumatra, killed 24 climbers, primarily students. Last month, Ruang in North Sulawesi province erupted more than half a dozen times, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes.
The volcano has also caused flight cancellations. The government warned airlines to avoid flying into the region because of the dangers of ash on aircraft engines. Hundreds of flights have been delayed or canceled.
Indonesia’s national carrier, Garuda Indonesia, canceled its flights to and from Bali. Its regional affiliate, Lion Air, canceled its service to and from the central city of Yogyakarta. Virgin Australia canceled its flights from Australia to various destinations in Indonesia, including the famous tourist islands of Bali and Phuket.
A spokesman for the transport ministry warned that more flights could be canceled. Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Bandung, and Semarang airports were closed due to poor visibility and the risk of damaging aircraft engines from ash.
The government urges locals to use public transportation to get around and stay away from the volcano, especially during daytime hours. It also asks students to clean up their homes and avoid sand mining. The active volcano is located in the northern part of the Indonesian island of Lombok, a popular tourist destination. The island has several other active volcanoes. During a deadly eruption in 2000, the volcano spewed hot lava and gasses into the sky, burning dozens of people. The island’s residents have been warned to stay at least 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the volcano. The last major eruption of the volcano in 2006 killed six people. The volcano is a popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts. It is also known for its scenic views. There are over 100 volcanoes in Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation of 250 million people.