A man walks through damaged school buildings affected by the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano at Flores Timur, Indonesia, November 4, 2024. Antara Foto/Pemulet Paul/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. INDONESIA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN INDONESIA. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.Source: Antara Foto
Mount Lewotobi, a twin-peaked volcano in eastern Indonesia, erupted multiple times this week, forcing thousands of residents to flee to nearby shelters.
The 1,703-metre (5,587-foot) high volcano spewed a massive tower of ash miles into the sky and unleashed fiery lava that ignited several houses in surrounding villages.
The initial eruption struck shortly after midnight on November 3, sending thick ash and molten lava down the slopes. It resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people and caused widespread destruction, according to a report by AFP.
The hardest-hit areas include six villages in the Wulanggitang District: Pululera, Nawokote, Hokeng Jaya, Klatanlo, Boru, and Boru Kedang, where tens of thousands of people have been affected.
Indonesia, an archipelago located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The country has endured natural disasters for hundreds of years, with records of volcanic activity and seismic events dating back to the 13th century.
Between 2004 and 2019, at least one major natural disaster was reported each month, including earthquakes, tsunamis, and eruptions, often compounded by climate change.