Mon Nov 04 06:11:16 UTC 2024: ## Indonesian Volcano Erupts, Killing 10 and Forcing Evacuations
**East Flores, Indonesia (November 4, 2024)** – A volcanic eruption on Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in eastern Indonesia has claimed the lives of at least 10 people, with thousands more forced to evacuate. The eruption, which began shortly before midnight on Sunday, sent fireballs and ash raining down on surrounding villages.
Witnesses described their terror as the volcano erupted, spewing molten rock and causing fires in several homes. “I was asleep when suddenly the bed shook twice,” recounted Hermanus Mite, a 32-year-old hairdresser. “Then I realised the volcano had erupted, so I ran outside. I saw flames coming out and immediately fled. There were ashes and stones everywhere. My salon also caught fire and everything inside was lost.”
The eruption prompted authorities to raise the alert level to its highest status and evacuate five villages, displacing thousands of residents. Footage captured by AFP showed houses covered in thick ash and some areas ablaze.
The country’s disaster mitigation agency (BNPB) confirmed the death toll and reported that 10,295 people have been affected by the eruption. The number of evacuees is still being assessed.
Indonesia’s volcanology agency warned of potential rain-induced lava floods and urged locals to wear masks for protection against volcanic ash. The agency also issued a warning to stay at least seven kilometers away from the volcano’s crater.
This is the latest in a series of volcanic eruptions in Indonesia, which sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for its intense volcanic and seismic activity. In December 2023, an eruption on Mount Marapi killed at least 24 climbers, and in May, heavy rains mixed with volcanic debris from Marapi caused devastating floods that claimed the lives of more than 60 people.
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