Maumer, Indonesia (AP). Residents wore masks to protect against thick volcanic ash, which were blankets and green rice fields in the villages of southern and central Indonesia, as Rumling Mountain Lewtobi Laki Laki erupted Tuesday on Tuesday on the second day.
The eruption at Dawn sent Lava and ash clouds to 4 kilometers (2.4 miles) height. It happened after Monday at noon, which sent a column of volcanic materials up to 18 kilometers (11 miles) to the sky and evening explosion, which pushed the lava and sent volcanic ash, even 13 kilometers (8 miles) into the air.
Photos and videos circulating in social media showed that frightened residents had run through ash and gravel for a lifetime, while motorists were trying to drive motorcycles and cars with a decline in visibility as the ash clouds had expanded from Monday’s eruption into the form of fungus.
Due to the latest volcanic eruptions, which have been the highest level since June 18, no victims have been reported when its zone has not been expanded to a radius of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles), said Abdul Muhari, a representative of the National Disaster Reduction Agency.
“Around the volcano, people were increasingly aware of how to reduce the effects of risk disasters, as eruptions have become more common since the end of 2023,” Muhari said in a statement.
According to the local disaster management agency, volcano eruptions on the island of Flores affected more than 10,000 people in 10 villages in the Eastern Flores and Sikka districts.
Activities were reported.
“The smell of sulfur and ash in the air was so densely hanging that breathing was painful,” Awales said.
The authorities distributed 50,000 masks and urged residents to restrict outdoor activities to protect themselves from volcanic materials. Residents were also encouraged to be vigilant due to high rainfall that could cause lava flows in rivers originating from the volcano.
Lewotobi Laki eruption occurred after 2024. November, who killed nine people and injured dozens.
The Geological Agency has captured the avalanche of breathing gas clouds mixed with rocks and laveings, driving up to 5 kilometers (3 miles) down from 1,584 meters (5,197 feet). Dron observations have shown that lava filled the crater, indicating a deep movement of magma that caused volcanic earthquakes. Volcanic materials, including hot thumb -sized gravel, were thrown up to 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the crater.
Muhari said the two airports in the East Tenggara province in East Tenggara were closed on Tuesday.
Dozens of flights to Ngurah Rai International Airport on the Bali resort island have been delayed or canceled, but Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, an airport spokesman, said the airport operates normally, despite cancellations, as observation showed that volcanic ash did not affect Bali’s airspace.
Monday’s initial eruption of Lewotobi Laki was one of the largest Indonesia since 2010, when the country’s largest mountain, which is the most volatile volcano in the country, erupted into the densely populated Java Island. This killed 353 people and forced more than 350,000 people to evacuate.
Indonesia is a archipelago of over 280 million people with frequent seismic activities. It has 120 active volcanoes and sits along the “Fire Ring”, a series of seismic fault lines surrounded by the Pacific Pool.
___
Karmini reported from Jakarta. Associated press journalists Edna Tarigan and Firdia Lisnawati contributed to this report.