JAKARTA, Oct 15 — Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted today, shooting volcanic ash 10km into the sky, the country's volcanology agency said, forcing the authorities to raise the alert system to its highest level.
Located in East Nusa Tenggara province, the volcano erupted at 1.35am for around nine minutes. It erupted again later at 9.21am, spewing ash 8km high for about three minutes, said the Geological Agency in a statement.
Late yesterday, it raised its alert level to the highest point after recording "significant rising of the volcano's activities" since Monday (October 13).
"People living near the volcano should be aware of the potential volcanic mudflow if heavy rain occurs," said the Geological Agency's head Muhammad Wafid, who also advised that people should clear a six- to seven-kilometre area around the site.
Dozens of people living in villages near the volcano were evacuated after the eruptions, said local disaster mitigation agency official Avelina Manggota Hallan.
Most of the residents left their villages after Lewotobi Laki-laki's major eruption, which killed 10 people and damaged thousands of houses in November last year.
The government has closed Fransiskus Xaverius Seda Airport in Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara province, until tomorrow, its operator said in a social media post.
The volcano last erupted in August. It also erupted in July, causing flight disruptions to and from the nearby resort island of Bali.
Today's eruptions so far have not affected flights to and from Bali, Bali's airport operator told Reuters.
Indonesia, which has more than 120 active volcanoes, sits on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire', an area of high seismic activity that is atop multiple tectonic plates.
