Indonesia closes airports over Mount Lewotobi's eruption

Indonesian authorities reported on Nov. 10 that eruptions since Nov. 4 had led to nine fatalities, impacting nearly 10,300 residents in the area.

Due to heightened volcanic activity from Nov. 7 – 9, the danger zone around Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki has expanded to a 9-km radius to the southwest and northwest and 7 km from the volcano's crater. According to the Geological Agency's monitoring station in East Flores, the volcano has produced ash columns reaching up to 9 km above its summit and 10 km above sea level. The agency said that despite the increased volcanic activity, data indicate no tsunami threat.

Seismic data recorded from the mountain in recent days showed 20 earthquakes, 23 tremors, three shallow volcanic quakes, 11 deep volcanic quakes, and continuous tremors with amplitudes between 1.4 and 17.7 mm.

Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency has increased the number of evacuation centers to accommodate the growing number of evacuees.