Eastern Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted again on Saturday, November 9, sending a colossal ash plume over 9 kilometers into the sky, following a series of eruptions that began earlier this week. This latest eruption—recorded at 4:47 a.m. local time—marks another in a relentless series of explosions that have claimed the lives of nine people, displaced thousands, and left a lasting mark on the region.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a towering 1,703-meter volcano on Flores Island, has erupted over a dozen times within days, sending communities into turmoil and creating an emergency for local and national authorities.
According to Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), the ash cloud from Saturday’s eruption reached a staggering altitude of approximately 9,000 meters above the volcano’s summit. The massive ash column was described as “grey with thick intensity,” a signal of the eruption’s violence and potential impact on both air quality and visibility across wide areas. In response, authorities are maintaining an exclusion zone of 8 kilometers around the volcano, urging locals to stay alert for further hazardous developments.
Saturday’s eruption came on the heels of a similarly intense eruption on Friday that forced the evacuation of monitoring officials stationed nearby. On Thursday, the volcano had already discharged an ash tower nearly 8 kilometers high, which witnesses described as one of the largest they had seen in recent years.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki’s eruptions have left the local community on edge, facing life-altering risks as the mountain continues to show little sign of quieting. The tremors and ash clouds have affected over 10,000 people, with many forced to abandon their homes within the exclusion zone.
Although no immediate reports of new damage emerged following Saturday’s eruption, authorities warned of potential lahars, or cold lava flows. Heavy rainfall anticipated in the coming days could combine with volcanic debris to create hazardous mudflows capable of engulfing nearby villages and farmlands. The Indonesian disaster mitigation agency has urged residents to stay vigilant, with the possibility of cold lava floods presenting a severe risk to the already vulnerable region.
Given the scale and recurrence of the eruptions, local authorities have prioritized permanent relocation for thousands of residents who live near Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki. Many evacuees, uncertain of when or if they will be able to return home, are currently housed in temporary shelters provided by the government. The head of Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency, Suharyanto, noted during a recent visit to an evacuation center that authorities are working swiftly to secure permanent housing solutions for affected families.
“Since the preparation and planning process for relocation takes time, we hope we can build them quickly,” Suharyanto said, underscoring the logistical challenges of rehousing displaced residents in the midst of a volatile eruption cycle. While authorities have pledged to provide funding and resources to facilitate a safe relocation, evacuees must grapple with the uncertainty of leaving their ancestral lands and livelihoods.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, whose name means “man” in Indonesian, is one of two twin peaks situated on the tourist-dotted island of Flores. The twin volcano’s counterpart, Mount Lewotobi Perempuan, meaning “woman,” has largely remained calm in comparison. This unusual pairing has made the two peaks a focal point of local mythology and geological interest, though the current spate of eruptions is a powerful reminder of the volatile nature of these otherwise majestic mountains.
The volcanic activity of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, despite its toll, continues to draw the attention of both scientists and locals alike. According to PVMBG, the volcano’s magma chamber has likely experienced significant pressure build-up, causing the recurring explosive events. Ongoing monitoring and further research are expected to yield insights into the precise mechanisms behind this eruption, as scientists analyze gas emissions, ash compositions, and seismic data.
Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago of over 17,000 islands, sits atop the Pacific “Ring of Fire”—an area of intense seismic and volcanic activity shaped by the tectonic interactions of the Pacific, Eurasian, and Indo-Australian plates. The country’s geography makes it highly susceptible to volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis. With 130 active volcanoes, Indonesia leads the world in volcanic activity, making events like the Lewotobi eruption a recurring challenge.
For Indonesia’s national government and local disaster response agencies, the Lewotobi eruption is a stark reminder of the ongoing need for robust emergency response systems. Enhanced disaster preparedness, coupled with scientific monitoring networks, have become essential in a country where such natural events are part of everyday life.
Beyond immediate risks to life and property, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki’s eruptions have also dealt a blow to the local economy, which relies heavily on agriculture and tourism. Volcanic ash has blanketed farmlands, jeopardizing crop yields and causing potential long-term soil degradation. Tourism, too, has been affected, as visitors stay away from Flores Island amid reports of the ongoing eruptions.
In addition to the economic impact, the environmental effects of volcanic ash dispersal are profound. Ash particles can contaminate water supplies, damage vegetation, and disrupt local ecosystems. For residents reliant on agriculture, the ash fall presents a multifaceted challenge, impacting everything from crop growth to livestock health.
In light of these significant challenges, Indonesian authorities have mobilized national and local resources to support the impacted communities. Health teams have been dispatched to evacuation centers to monitor the respiratory health of evacuees, especially given the thick ash clouds that continue to settle over wide areas. Medical personnel are on high alert for respiratory ailments, skin irritation, and eye problems that can arise from prolonged ash exposure.
At the same time, the Indonesian government has coordinated with the national army and police force to assist in evacuations and logistics. Relief organizations have stepped in to provide food, water, and essential supplies to those temporarily housed in shelters. Educational programs are also underway, teaching evacuees how to protect themselves from ash exposure and prepare for the possibility of additional evacuations.
While the exact duration of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki’s current eruption cycle remains unknown, the recurring explosions emphasize the necessity of long-term planning for regional resilience. The Indonesian government has pledged to enhance early-warning systems across the nation’s volcanic hotspots, drawing from lessons learned during recent eruptions at Mount Semeru and Mount Merapi. The goal is to refine predictive capabilities and ensure that at-risk communities have sufficient time to prepare for, and potentially evacuate from, impending eruptions.
Community resilience is also taking shape through education initiatives that train residents to respond swiftly and effectively during natural disasters. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency, in collaboration with local government bodies, has rolled out disaster-preparedness programs in schools and community centers, teaching citizens how to interpret warning signs and take protective measures.
