At least 10 people die at Lewotobi Lakilaki – Volcanic ash reaches 12,000 meters
Last night, a volcanic disaster occurred on the Indonesian island of Flores when Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted violently. The exact sequence of the eruption is still not fully clarified. Around midnight local time, there was apparently a strong explosion, and ash and glowing tephra reached inhabited areas. Several buildings, including a Catholic monastery at the foot of the volcano, caught fire and burned down. At least ten people lost their lives, and several others were injured. The Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) issued a VONA warning, reporting volcanic ash reaching up to 12,000 meters. The eruption cloud split and drifted in two directions: one cloud was blown westward, the other southeast. The alert level was raised from “Orange” to “Red.” The exclusion zone was expanded from 4 kilometers to 7 kilometers.