Indonesia is home to thousands of islands, many of which feature some of the most active volcanoes in the world. On June 17, the Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano in south-central Indonesia erupted, leading authorities to raise the alert level to its highest point. The Indonesian Geological Agency reported that the volcano emitted thick gray clouds reaching an altitude of 10,000 meters (32,800 feet) on Tuesday afternoon. Authorities said that they had observed an increase in volcanic activity before the eruption, with 50 events occurring in just two hours, compared to the usual daily range of 8 to 10 activities.
The eruption generated a mushroom-shaped ash cloud that could be seen from cities located 90 to 150 kilometres away. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties. In response to the eruption, Indonesian authorities have expanded the danger zone to 8 kilometres (5 miles) from the crater. All aircraft have been prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano and are advised to remain vigilant for volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights. Residents living near the volcano have been warned about the possibility of rain-induced lava flows.
Indonesia is renowned for its extensive archipelago, which comprises thousands of islands, many of which are influenced by geological activity due to a chain of active volcanoes. The country is vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because it is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region of the Pacific Ocean known for its active volcanoes and frequent seismic activity.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, located in the Flores Timur district of East Nusa Tenggara, has a height of 1,584 meters (5,197 feet). Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, meaning "male" in Indonesian, has a twin known as Mount Lewotobi Perempuan.
In November of last year, Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted, leading to the deaths of nine individuals and injuring dozens more. This eruption underscored the geological instability of the region and the ongoing seismic activity that is characteristic of many of Indonesia’s islands.