Bali: Several flights to and from the Indonesian resort island of Bali have been cancelled or delayed following the eruption of one of the country's most active volcanoes. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, located on the island of Flores, erupted, spewing an ash tower more than 11km (6.8 miles) into the sky at 17:35 local time (10:35 BST) on Tuesday, as reported by the country's volcanology agency.
According to BBC, there have been no reports of casualties following the eruption. Authorities have increased the alert level to the highest and have advised residents to refrain from activities within a 7km radius around the crater. The twin-peaked volcano had a series of eruptions in November, which resulted in nine fatalities and the displacement of thousands of residents.
Geology agency head Muhammad Wafid has issued a warning regarding potential lahar floods, a type of mud or debris flow of volcanic materials, particularly if heavy rain ensues. Residents have also been urged to wear face masks for protection against volcanic ash.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency reported that at least one village has been evacuated, and ash rain has been observed in several other villages outside the exclusion zone. A spokesman from the agency has called on residents in the vicinity of the volcano to evacuate to safe locations, as tremors continue to be detected, indicating ongoing volcanic activity.
Indonesia is situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a region where tectonic plates collide, leading to frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Lewotobi Laki-Laki's previous eruption occurred in May, during which authorities also elevated the alert level to the most severe. Laki-Laki, meaning "man" in Indonesian, is paired with the taller and calmer volcano named Perempuan, meaning "woman" in Indonesian.