JAKARTA – At least nine people died after Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in eastern Indonesia erupted on November 3, spewing explosive lava and forcing authorities to evacuate several nearby villages, authorities said on November 4.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, located on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province, erupted at 23:57 local time on November 3, spewing a column of fiery red lava, volcanic ash and incandescent rock, center spokesman Mr Hadi Wijaya said. Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), said Nov. 4.

“After the eruption, there was a power outage, followed by rain and large lightning strikes, causing panic among the population,” he told Reuters, adding that the authority had upgraded the volcano’s status to IV, or the highest level.

The agency recommended clearing the 7 km area.

Fiery lava and rocks crashed into the nearest settlements, about 4 km away from the crater, burning residents’ homes and causing damage, Hadi said.

Mr Heronimus Lamawuran, the local official in East Flores district, said that as of the morning of November 4, at least nine people had died and the explosion had affected seven villages.

“Starting this morning, we started evacuating residents to other villages located about 20 km away from the crater,” he said.

Mr Heronimus added that the nearest villages were covered in thick volcanic ash on the morning of November 4.

Authorities are still collecting data on the number of evacuees and buildings damaged.

Indonesia lies on the “Pacific Ring of Fire”, an area of ​​high seismic activity across multiple tectonic plates.

This eruption follows a series of eruptions of different volcanoes in Indonesia. A volcano on Mount Ibu, on the remote island of Halmahera, in May caused people to evacuate from seven villages

Ruang Volcano in North Sulawesi also erupted in May, prompting authorities to evacuate more than 12,000 people.

Flash flood and cold lava flow The fire from Mount Marapi in West Sumatra province engulfed many nearby areas following heavy rain on May 11, killing more than 60 people. REUTERS