At Least 10 Killed in Indonesia After Volcano Erupts

At least 10 people have died following a volcanic eruption in eastern Indonesia. Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, situated in the southeastern part of Flores island, erupted for twenty-four minutes late on Sunday and continued to erupt overnight. By Monday morning, a smoke column measuring 300 meters was reported.

The eruption set off over a dozen earthquakes, prompting concerns about further seismic activity. Emergency services confirmed the recovery of nine bodies, with another trapped under debris. Damage spread across seven villages, displacing many residents who were relocated to nearby areas.

Residents have been advised to maintain a distance of more than seven kilometers from the volcano. The regional geology is part of the volatile Ring of Fire, notorious for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. With Indonesia's volcanoes among the most active globally, recent eruptions have been deadly, including a fatal event at Mount Marapi last year.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki has erupted 43 times since late October. The volcanic activity levels have shown a significant increase, underscored by an ash plume reaching 800 meters above the summit last week.