Post by : Jyoti Gupta

Photo:Reuters

Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, erupted for a second consecutive day on Saturday, sending a powerful column of volcanic ash and hot debris soaring into the sky. The eruption occurred in the early hours of the morning, darkening the skies over Flores Island and covering nearby villages in a thick layer of ash and gravel. It marked the second eruption in less than five hours, with an earlier outburst on Friday evening that had already sent tremors through the region and lit up the sky with glowing lava and flashes of volcanic lightning.

The Saturday eruption was especially severe, with ash clouds reported to have reached a height of 18 kilometers (11 miles) into the atmosphere. The force of the blast was so intense that it registered strong seismic activity and could be heard and felt in surrounding areas. Friday night’s eruption, while slightly less intense, was dramatic in its own right, sending volcanic ash up to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) high and sparking visible bolts of lightning as molten material clashed with atmospheric pressure in the night sky.

Indonesia’s national geology agency reported that both eruptions produced dangerous pyroclastic flows—superheated clouds of gas, rocks, and lava—that raced down the mountain’s slopes, reaching up to 5 kilometers (3 miles) away from the crater. Drones flying near the volcano’s summit confirmed intense movement of magma inside the mountain, triggering tremors that were recorded by the region’s seismic monitoring systems. These findings suggest deep internal activity, heightening fears of more violent eruptions in the near future.

Residents living near the base of Mount Lewotobi were forced to shelter indoors as volcanic gravel, roughly the size of a human thumb, rained down on their rooftops and roads. The gravel and ash spread as far as 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the volcano, turning entire towns into grey wastelands, blanketing farmland, choking rivers, and making many roads impassable. Visibility dropped to near zero in some areas, and a strong sulfuric smell hung in the air.

Officials have urged villagers to remain alert, particularly in areas along riverbanks. Heavy rainfall, which is common in this region, could mix with the volcanic material to create deadly lava floods known as lahar. These fast-moving mudflows pose a significant threat to communities living downstream, especially if more eruptions occur in the coming days.

Saturday’s eruption has already been described by experts as one of the largest volcanic events in Indonesia since 2010, when Mount Merapi exploded on the island of Java, killing more than 350 people and displacing hundreds of thousands. While no casualties were immediately reported from this latest Lewotobi eruption, emergency responders remain on high alert, and local authorities have expanded the exclusion zone around the volcano to a 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) radius. People living within that area have been ordered to evacuate and stay away from the mountain.

The volcano has been under close watch since June 18, when an earlier eruption raised its alert level to the highest possible. Since then, its activity has grown more frequent and more intense. In November of last year, a series of eruptions at Lewotobi killed nine people and destroyed thousands of homes, leading the government to permanently relocate thousands of residents to safer areas. Many of those who had returned to their homes in recent months are now being forced to flee once again.

Saturday’s eruption also comes just weeks after a July 7 volcanic event on a separate island caused serious disruptions. That earlier eruption, also in Indonesia, forced the temporary closure of Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport, led to the cancellation of dozens of flights, and covered rice fields and roads with thick mud and rock. The timing of these two major eruptions so close together has reignited concerns about the increasing volatility of Indonesia’s many volcanoes.

Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, is home to over 120 active volcanoes, the highest number of any country in the world. It sits on the “Ring of Fire”, a massive belt of seismic and volcanic activity that runs around the edges of the Pacific Ocean. This region is known for its frequent earthquakes and eruptions, making natural disasters a regular and dangerous part of life for millions of Indonesians.

With a population of more than 280 million, many people in Indonesia live in close proximity to active volcanic sites, often because fertile volcanic soil supports farming and agriculture. However, this closeness to danger also makes evacuations difficult and increases the risk of casualties when eruptions occur.

Authorities continue to monitor Mount Lewotobi closely, using seismic data, drone imagery, and satellite technology to assess any new threats. Scientists say that while the latest eruption has temporarily settled, the deep movement of magma inside the volcano suggests that further eruptions are very likely. Villagers have been told to remain ready for sudden evacuations and to avoid returning to the exclusion zone under any circumstances.

The situation remains tense on Flores Island, where ash continues to fall and emergency shelters are quickly filling up. Aid groups and local officials are working to distribute masks, food, and clean water to affected residents, many of whom have seen their homes and livelihoods once again buried beneath layers of grey ash.