JAKARTA, June 9 — Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province remained highly active today after days of eruptions that forced the temporary closure of a local airport.
Xinhua reported that the authorities said the volcano on Flores Island has erupted repeatedly since Friday (June 5), sending ash columns high into the sky. The local volcanology agency said that eight eruptions were recorded yesterday and at least six more today.
The mountain remains under Indonesia's second-highest alert level for volcanic activity. A 5km exclusion zone has been established around the crater, while residents living near rivers have been advised to remain vigilant for potential lahar flows, dangerous mudflows composed of volcanic debris that can occur during heavy rainfall.
The local airport, about 60km west of the volcano, resumed operations this morning after being shut since Friday due to volcanic ash.
Indonesia, one of the world's most volcanically active countries, is located on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire', an arc of seismic faults around the ocean, resulting in frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
