Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province erupted three times on Friday (March 21), sending an ash plume 8,000 meters (26,200 feet) into the sky. Authorities raised the eruption alert to the highest level and expanded the exclusion zone around the volcano.
The eruption, which follows a surge in seismic activity over the past week, has led to flight cancellations and delays between Australia and Indonesia’s popular tourist destination, Bali. Officials have also warned of potential lava flows triggered by heavy rainfall.
Authorities expanded the danger zone from 7 kilometers to 8 kilometers from the crater.
However, details on evacuations were not immediately available.
Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, part of a twin-volcano system with Mount Lewotobi Perempuan, last erupted in November, killing nine people and injuring dozens.
Indonesia, home to 120 active volcanoes, sits on the Pacific’s volatile Ring of Fire, where seismic and volcanic activity is common.
Bd-Pratidin English/ARK
