Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki roars to life with massive eruption VIDEO

Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, an active volcano in south-central Indonesia, erupted on June 17, sending massive plumes of hot ash high into the atmosphere and prompting authorities to raise the eruption alert to its highest level. 

The exclusion zone around the crater was expanded to 8 kilometres (approximately 5 miles) as a precaution, Caliber.Az reports, citing US media.

According to Indonesia’s Geology Agency, the volcano released a towering ash column reaching 10,000 meters (about 32,800 feet) into the sky on the afternoon of June 17.

The event followed an unusual spike in volcanic activity, with 50 tremors recorded in just two hours, far above the typical daily average of 8 to 10.

The eruption produced a vast, mushroom-shaped cloud of grey ash, which was visible from cities as far as 90 to 150 kilometres (56 to 93 miles) away.

No casualties have been reported so far. However, local authorities are warning residents to remain alert, particularly in the event of heavy rainfall, which could lead to dangerous lava flows along rivers originating from the volcano.

Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki previously erupted in November, killing nine people and injuring dozens.

Rising 1,584 meters (5,197 feet) above sea level, Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki forms a twin volcanic complex with Mount Lewotobi Perempuan, both situated in the Flores Timur district of Indonesia.

Indonesia, home to around 270 million people, is highly prone to volcanic and seismic activity due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” — a belt of tectonic fault lines and volcanoes encircling the Pacific Ocean. The country has 120 active volcanoes.

By Tamilla Hasanova