A significant volcanic eruption has occurred on the island of Flores in Indonesia. The Lewotobi volcano erupted, sending a massive ash cloud soaring 16,000 meters (32,000 feet) into the sky. This event led the Australian Government to issue a red alert for aircraft in the area.
Visuals captured thick ash rising 6.8 miles high, prompting authorities to expand the danger zone surrounding the volcano. Residents within this zone have been evacuated as a precaution against pyroclastic flow risks and have been urged to stay calm.
The country's volcanology agency has raised the alert level for Lewotobi to the highest level, citing the potential for lava flows in case of rainfall. Japan's Meteorological Agency is also monitoring the situation to assess the possibility of a tsunami following the eruption.
The eruption occurred at 5:34 pm WITA time, with ash columns reaching an altitude of 11,584 meters above sea level.
Source: Daily Express
