MAUMERE, Indonesia — On Monday, officials from Indonesia’s Disaster Management Agency reported that the recent volcanic activity on the island of Flores has resulted in the deaths of at least nine individuals.
This unfortunate development comes as the situation escalated around Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, prompting authorities to upgrade the volcano’s alert status and enlarge the exclusion zone.
After a series of eruptions that began last week, the country’s volcanology agency classified the volcano at the highest level of alert, expanding the restricted area to a 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) radius following midnight on Monday due to the increased frequency of eruptions.
Since Thursday, the volcano has been erupting daily, releasing thick brownish ash clouds that reach heights of up to 2,000 meters (6,500 feet).
In a notable eruption just after midnight on Monday, the volcanic ash was propelled high into the sky, with some of the hot material affecting a nearby village, which led to the destruction of multiple homes, including a convent housing Catholic nuns, as reported by Firman Yosef, an official monitoring the situation at Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki.
The ongoing volcanic activity and its accompanying hazards have raised concerns among the local populace and have heightened the urgency for monitoring efforts in the area.