Indonesian Volcano Spews Colossal Ash Tower Alert Level Raised

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 Residents have been urged to wear face masks to protect themselves from volcanic ash.
The height of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki’s eruption column was observed at approximately 10,000m above the summit. (Photo by AFP)JAKARTA: A volcano in eastern Indonesia spewed a colossal ash tower into the sky today, authorities said, after they raised its alert level to the highest of a four-tiered system
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,584m twin-peaked volcano on the tourist island of Flores, erupted at 5.35pm local time, the volcanology agency said in a statement.
“The height of the eruption column was observed at approximately 10,000m above the summit. The ash column was observed to be grey with thick intensity,” it said, after the alert level was raised.
There were no immediate reports of damages or casualties.
Geology agency head Muhammad Wafid said residents and tourists should avoid carrying out any activities within at least 7km of the volcano’s crater.
But he warned of the possibility of hazardous lahar floods – a type of mud or debris flow of volcanic materials – if heavy rain occurs, particularly for communities near to rivers.
He also urged residents to wear face masks to protect themselves from volcanic ash.
In November, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted multiple times killing nine people and forcing thousands to evacuate, as well as the cancellation of scores of international flights to Bali.
There were no immediate reports of cancelled flights after today’s eruption.
Laki-Laki, which means man in Indonesian, is twinned with the calmer but taller 1,703m volcano named Perempuan, after the Indonesian word for woman.
Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”. - FMT

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