At least 10 dead as Laki-Laki volcano erupts in Indonesia | Video
At least 10 dead as Laki-Laki volcano erupts in Indonesia (representative image)
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in eastern Indonesia erupted on Sunday night, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 people. The eruption prompted local authorities to evacuate several nearby villages as lava and volcanic ash threatened homes.
The volcano erupted at 23:57 local time (15:57 GMT), unleashing a towering column of lava, ash and incandescent rocks into the atmosphere. Hadi Wijaya, a spokesperson for the Centre of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), stated that fiery lava reached settlements approximately four kilometres (two miles) from the crater, causing significant damage to residences.
Residents describe the chaos
Residents were taken by surprise as the volcano erupted, leading to panic. "I was asleep when suddenly the bed shook twice as if someone had slammed it. Then I realised the volcano had erupted, so I ran outside," recalled 32-year-old hairdresser Hermanus Mite, as he told the AFP news agency.
He continued, "I saw flames coming out and immediately fled. There were ashes and stones everywhere. My salon also caught fire and everything inside was lost."
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
IAF's Jaguar fighter jet has no ejection seat auto-activation! What does it mean for pilots?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet 5 Indian batters with most Test runs against England, Sunil Gavaskar leads the chart
)
Scientists stumbled upon four pitch-black eggs 20,000 feet below ocean. They turned out to be...
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Top 6 fighter jets that became the biggest disasters in aviation history
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Russia’s MiG-41 vs China’s J-36: sixth-generation fighter jets signal a terrifying new era of warfare
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Churu plane crash: How many Jaguar fighter jet does the IAF have and how many are for training?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
This fighter jet could fly at the edge of space and it's not American...
)
10,000 Ontario college layoffs, 600 programmes scrapped: Canada education is hurting, and there may be an India connection
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
From Mark Boucher to MS Dhoni: Top 5 best wicket-keepers in cricket history
)
The ultimate aerial powerhouses revealed: Meet the top 10 best fighter jets in the world for 2025
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Can't Get over Queen of Tears? Here are 5 more dramas with heartbreaking love stories
🌋🇮🇩 Terrible situation in the southeast of Flores Island, Indonesia. The Lewotobi (Lakilaki) volcano erupted and launched powerful bombs of pyroclastic and volcanic ash towards nearby villages. Several houses caught fire and an intense rain of ash and gravel has forced residents… pic.twitter.com/HIUO8pi02T — Weather monitor (@Weathermonitors) November 3, 2024
Local response to the eruption
An AFP journalist near the volcano reported that five villages were evacuated, forcing thousands to seek refuge elsewhere. Several wooden homes caught fire, and the ground was left marked with craters from the molten rocks.
The eruption was not a one-time event; it occurred again at 1:27 am and 2:48 am local time, as reported by the country’s volcanology agency. Authorities are currently assessing the situation and working to protect affected communities.
(With inputs from agencies)