Another eruption in Indonesia, 10 km ash cloud in the sky

Indonesia's Mount Leytobi Laki-Laki volcano has erupted again. A huge cloud of ash and gas from the volcanic eruption has spread about 10 kilometers into the sky. As a result, the country's authorities have issued the highest level of emergency alert. No casualties have been reported so far in the eruption that occurred on Wednesday (October 15), according to the international media Al Jazeera. However, local residents and tourists on the island of Flores in eastern Indonesia have been asked to stay away from the mountain and prepare for possible evacuation.

The country's Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center said in a statement, "The public should remain calm and follow the instructions of local authorities. Information from unclear sources should not be believed." The volcano erupted for nine minutes on Wednesday morning, the report said. A smaller eruption had occurred two hours earlier.

The head of Indonesia's Geological Survey, Muhammad Wafid, said people were advised not to travel within 6 to 7 kilometers of the eruption site. The volcanic material rose about 10 kilometers into the sky from the 1,584-meter peak. He also warned that if there was heavy rain, the mudflow formed after the eruption could pose a risk of flooding in the surrounding area. If the ash column spreads, it could also disrupt airport operations and air traffic.

The same volcano erupted last July. Then the ash cloud rose about 18 kilometers into the sky and authorities were forced to cancel flights at Bali's international airport. Earlier, in November 2024, the eruption of Mount Leytobi killed 10 people and damaged thousands of homes in a local village.

Indonesia is one of the world's most volcanically active countries. The country currently has more than 120 active volcanoes. It is located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an earthquake and volcanic belt that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean. According to experts, while earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are almost regular occurrences in the region, the recent violent eruption of Mount Leytobi is an ominous sign.

In short, the eruption of Indonesia's Leytobi Laki-Laki volcano has once again put the country's population on alert. Ash clouds, possible mudflows and disruption to air traffic are all now on high alert across the country.