Averting tragedy: the new eruption of the Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano forces the evacuation of 16,000 people

The Lewotobi Laki-laki volcanolocated in the eastern part of the island of Flores, Indonesia, erupted again on Monday night, after a first eruption on Sunday.

This stratovolcano, which reaches an altitude of approximately 1,700 meters and is part of a volcanic complex that also includes the Lewotobi Perempuan volcanohurled burning rocks and volcanic ash onto surrounding villages, causing fires and destruction. Authorities confirmed the deaths of at least 10 people and the wounding of dozens of others. In addition to the victims, there is considerable material damage: over 2,300 homes and 25 schools were damaged. Many of these structures, built of wood, were completely destroyed by flames or made unusable by ash.

The area around Lewotobi Laki-laki is predominantly mountainous, with dense forests and agricultural land, where the local population mainly engages in agriculture, fishing and tourism. Unfortunately, the population density near the volcano increases the risk of casualties and damage in the event of an eruption. The nearest villages, located a few kilometers away from the volcano’s crater (which has a diameter of about 400 metres), they are particularly exposed to the risk of eruptions and lava flow which, due to the morphology of the terrain, can easily reach inhabited centers.

East Flores regional government spokesman Heronimus Lamawuran told Reuters that 2,472 people out of a total of 16,086 residents had now been evacuated. Evacuations are made difficult by the presence of thick volcanic ash which hinders the passage of emergency vehicles. “We plan to temporarily evacuate residents until it is safe for them to return to their villages,” Lamawuran said.

The island of Flores, a popular tourist destination, was hit hard by the eruption of Lewotobi Laki-laki. Four airports, crucial for the evacuation and arrival of aid, were closed due to volcanic ash hampering flights, further isolating the island and preventing the arrival of aid and the evacuation of tourists. The local government declared a state of emergency and is collaborating with the central government to provide aid to the population. “We deployed additional trucks on Tuesday, along with military and police personnel, to facilitate evacuations,” Lamawuran added.

Indonesia is located on the so-called “Pacific Ring of Fire”, an area of ​​high seismic and volcanic activity. The country has a long history of volcanic eruptions, some of which have claimed thousands of lives. The Indonesian government is working to improve early warning systems and evacuation plansbut the challenge is great, considering the number of active volcanoes in the country and the population density in many areas at risk.