The Indonesian government is working to evacuate at least 16,000 residents from villages surrounding the active Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano, which erupted on Sunday night, resulting in nine fatalities and widespread damage to homes.
The volcano, located on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province, has remained on the country’s highest volcanic alert status following a smaller eruption on Monday night.
As of Tuesday morning, approximately 2,472 out of 16,086 residents from eight affected villages have been evacuated, according to Heronimus Lamawuran, spokesperson for the East Flores regional government. The ongoing evacuations have faced challenges due to thick layers of volcanic ash obstructing some roads.
“We plan to temporarily evacuate the residents until it’s safe for them to return to their villages,” Lamawuran stated. Evacuated individuals have been relocated to three school buildings and temporary shelters located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the volcano’s crater.
In response to the escalating situation, authorities deployed additional trucks and mobilised military and police personnel to assist with the evacuation efforts. The local government has revised the death toll to nine, from 10, with 63 people reported injured. Additionally, approximately 2,384 homes and at least 25 schools have sustained damage.
To facilitate disaster response, the local government has declared a state of emergency for the next 58 days, allowing the central government to provide aid and resources to affected residents. As a precaution, four small airports on Flores Island have been closed due to the volcanic activity.
Indonesia is situated along the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” a region known for its high seismic activity and frequent volcanic eruptions, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by communities living in close proximity to active volcanoes.
Melissa Enoch
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