Daijiworld Media Network - Jakarta

Jakarta, Apr 16: Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi, located in East Nusa Tenggara province, erupted on Wednesday, spewing a thick column of ash 3,500 metres into the sky and prompting authorities to issue a flight warning and safety advisories for nearby communities.

The Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre raised the Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA) to the orange level the second-highest advising aircraft to avoid flying below 5,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano due to the risk posed by airborne volcanic ash.

The ash cloud moved west and northwest of the crater, and residents living within six kilometres of the volcano have been strictly advised to avoid any activity in the area due to risks of hot clouds, falling debris, and lava flows.

Authorities also warned of possible lava-induced floods along rivers originating from the volcano during heavy rains. Locals have been urged to wear masks or cover their nose and mouth to avoid respiratory problems from ash exposure.

This eruption follows a major event last month when Mount Lewotobi ejected a towering ash column 8,000 metres high, prompting the centre to raise the alert level to its maximum. Mount Lewotobi, which stands at 1,584 metres, is among Indonesia’s 127 active volcanoes.

Indonesia, home to more than 270 million people, sits along the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' — a highly active seismic zone — and regularly experiences earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The country’s volatile geology stems from its position at the meeting point of several major tectonic plates, including the Eurasian, Australian, and Pacific plates.