The Indonesian government has initiated the evacuation of at least 16,000 residents from villages surrounding the active Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara province. The volcano, which erupted on Sunday night and again on Monday, claimed nine lives, injured 63 people, and caused severe damage to thousands of homes and several schools. The volcano remains at the highest alert level as authorities race to ensure the safety of affected communities.
The evacuation efforts, however, are facing significant challenges. Thick volcanic ash has covered many roads, hampering rescue operations, according to Heronimus Lamawuran, spokesperson for the East Flores regional government. As of Tuesday morning, around 2,472 residents out of the estimated 16,086 from eight villages have been evacuated to safer areas. The evacuees are being housed in temporary shelters and school buildings roughly 20 kilometers from the crater.
“We plan to temporarily evacuate the residents until it is safe for them to return to their villages,” said Lamawuran. Authorities deployed additional trucks and enlisted the help of military and police personnel to speed up the evacuation process. The local government has declared a state of emergency for 58 days, allowing the central government to extend its assistance in providing aid and relief supplies to the residents.
The volcanic activity has also impacted local infrastructure, leading to the closure of four small airports on Flores Island. Authorities have reported that 2,384 houses and at least 25 schools were damaged in the wake of the eruption. Mount Lewotobi’s eruption is a stark reminder of the seismic volatility in Indonesia, which lies on the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” an area known for frequent volcanic activity due to shifting tectonic plates.