AT least six people have perished as a series of volcanic explosions on the isolated island of Flores spread according to Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency,
An explosion at Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki just after midnight on Monday spewed thick brownish ash as high as 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) into the air, and hot ashes struck a nearby village, destroying several houses, involving a Catholic nuns’ convent, according to Firman Yosef, an official at the Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki monitoring post.
The Disaster Management Agency reduced the confirmed death toll from nine, citing new data from local authorities. It stated that information on the degree of harm and loss was still being gathered since local media sources indicated that more persons had been buried in collapsed houses.
On Monday, authorities increased the danger level and expanded the danger zone for Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, which had erupted since last week.
The country’s volcano tracking service raised the volcano’s warning level to the highest level and more than doubled the exclusion zone to a 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) radius after midnight on Monday, as outbursts became more frequent.
According to the agency, the eruption in Wulanggitang District has affected at least 10,000 people in six surrounding villages: Pululera, Nawokote, Hokeng Jaya, Klatanlo, Boru, and Boru Kedang.
In Ile Bura District, four villages were hit: Dulipali, Nobo, Nurabelen, and Riang Rita; in Titehena District, Konga, Kobasoma, Bokang Wolomatang, and Watowara were all damaged.
He claimed that volcanic material was flung up to 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from the crater, covering adjacent villages and towns with tons of volcanic debris and driving locals to evacuate.
A nun died in Hokeng hamlet, and another is missing, according to Agusta Palma, the administrator of the Saint Gabriel Foundation, which governs convents on the predominantly Catholic island.
“Our nuns ran out in panic under a rain of volcanic ash in the darkness,” Palma told reporters.
Photos and videos circulating on social media revealed masses of volcanic debris covering houses up to their rooftops in towns such as Hokeng, where hot volcanic material set fire to houses.
This is Indonesia’s second volcanic eruption in as many weeks. Mount Marapi in West Sumatra province erupted on October 27, blasting thick columns of ash at least three times and blanketing adjacent communities with debris, however, no injuries were reported.