Sunday, December 22, 2024

Ten dead after volcano erupts on popular tourist island in Indonesia

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At least 10 people are dead after a volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted multiple times overnight, spewing fireballs and ash on surrounding villages.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,703-metre (5,587-feet) twin volcano located on the popular tourist island of Flores, first erupted shortly before midnight on Sunday, forcing authorities to evacuate several villages.

Footage posted on social media showed villages near the volcano covered by thick ash, with some areas on fire.

Residents described their horror when the crater started to shoot flaming rocks at their homes.

“I was asleep when suddenly the bed shook twice, as if someone had slammed it. Then I realised the volcano had erupted, so I ran outside,” said 32-year-old hairdresser Hermanus Mite.

“I saw flames coming out and immediately fled. There were ashes and stones everywhere. My salon also caught fire and everything inside was lost.”

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