Over 16,000 residents are being urgently evacuated from villages surrounding the towering Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano on Flores Island, Indonesia. The massive evacuation effort was launched after the volatile volcano spectacularly erupted on Sunday night, belching thick clouds of ash and smoke into the sky. Tragically, the sudden eruption has already claimed 9 lives and left dozens injured.
According to local authorities, the full scale of the destruction is still emerging. It is believed around 2,384 homes and at least 25 schools situated near the volcano have been severely damaged by falling ash and lava flows. Challenging conditions like thick volcanic ash blanketing roads are slowing down evacuation efforts. So far, over 2,400 residents have been safely moved to temporary shelters located around 20 km from the crater. More trucks, military and police personnel have now joined the operation to hasten the safe relocation of others.
A state of emergency has been declared in the affected region for the next two months. This gives the central government powers to coordinate extensive relief work. Nearby airports on Flores Island have also been forced to shut down operations due to the dangerous ash clouds. Experts warn the powerful Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano, located in the prolific ‘Ring of Fire’, remains on high alert. Its rumbling continues as emergency crews fight around the clock to evacuate residents from the danger zone. Only time will tell if there are more eruptions to come from this towering natural wonder.
