Volcano eruption kills at least 6 in Indonesia

At least six people have been confirmed dead following a series of eruptions at Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in eastern Indonesia.

The eruptions, which began on November 3 night, have devastated parts of the island of Flores, sending ash plumes as high as 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) into the air and destroying multiple homes, including a convent of Catholic nuns, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

"According to our coordination with the local authorities, six fatalities have been confirmed," Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency, stated during an interview with Kompas TV. Rescue operations are still underway, as emergency teams continue to search for more victims potentially trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings, East Flores district emergency response head Avi Mangota Hallan told Germany's DPA news agency.

The volcano erupted just before midnight, with further explosions at 1:27 a.m. and 2:48 a.m. local time, blanketing the surrounding region in ash and causing widespread destruction. Authorities have raised the volcanic alert to its highest level and warned locals and tourists to avoid any activities within a seven-kilometre (4.3-mile) radius of the crater.

"There has been a significant increase in volcanic activity on Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki," Indonesia's volcanology agency said in a press release, advising the public of potential rain-induced lava floods and urging residents to wear masks to protect against ash inhalation.

The Indonesian government has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas, effective until December 31, as relief efforts intensify. Firman Yosef, an official at the volcano’s monitoring post, reported that several houses have been burned down, and the ongoing eruptions have made evacuation efforts challenging.

Indonesia, located along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," is no stranger to volcanic activity. Earlier this year, in January, authorities raised the alert status for Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki after multiple eruptions led to the evacuation of over 2,000 residents. In May, thousands more were evacuated from North Sulawesi's Sangihe Islands after the eruption of Mount Ruang.

Rescue teams are now working against the clock to locate and evacuate residents in vulnerable areas as the volcanic activity persists, adding to the region's long history of seismic volatility.

By Khagan Isayev