A powerful eruption of Mount Lewotobi on the Indonesian island of Flores claimed the lives of at least nine people, with another 64 injured, half of them seriously.
Volcanic activity began on October 31 and was accompanied by numerous earthquakes. According to the geological agency, 138 volcanic earthquakes occurred on November 1 and 2, including 119 deep and 19 shallow ones.
Late on November 1, a powerful lava fountain erupted from the volcano, accompanied by volcanic lightning. On the night of November 3 to 4, two particularly deadly eruptions took place while the island’s residents were asleep.
According to the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation, the first eruption occurred at 11:57 PM, and the second at 1:27 AM local time.
Seven nearby villages were severely impacted.
Hot rocks, gravel, and ash were scattered up to about 3.7 miles from the crater, burying surrounding villages under volcanic debris.
For two hours, debris from the eruption destroyed rooftops and caused fires, while people fled in panic.
The volcano expelled an ash cloud that reached a height of more than 7.5 miles above sea level. As a result, four airports on Flores Island were forced to temporarily cease operations. The region was placed under the highest level of danger. Additionally, any activity was banned within a 4.3-mile radius of the volcano.
The Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation reports that volcanic eruptions continued. In fact, at least seven eruptions of Lewotobi were recorded since November 6.
At 10:48 AM local time, a major eruption occurred. According to the Ash Advisory Center in Darwin, the ash was recorded at a height of 10.4 miles above sea level.
The geological agency decided to expand the exclusion zone around the volcano to 5 miles from the southwest to the northwest, and the Indonesian government initiated plans for the permanent relocation of residents in the volcanic area.
The Earth has entered a period characterized by extremely rapid changes in volcanic activity. These changes are linked to the cyclic nature of climate disasters, occurring every 12,000 years. Detailed information about this cyclicity and the measures to prevent a planetary catastrophe was presented at the international forum "Global Crisis. The Responsibility."