A powerful eruption from Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki on Indonesia’s Flores Island has claimed at least 10 lives, authorities confirmed on November 4, BBC reported. The volcano, situated in East Nusa Tenggara province, began spewing lava and rocks late at night, creating hazardous conditions for nearby communities, according to the Indonesian Centre for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMG).

The eruption struck just before midnight local time, unleashing fiery debris that landed in villages within a 4-kilometre radius of the crater, igniting homes and other structures. The event has impacted seven villages, with reports of widespread property damage. As a precaution, PVMG has raised the volcano’s alert status to the highest level, advising that the immediate area within a 7-kilometre zone around the volcano be evacuated.

In response, local authorities have started relocating residents to safer locations approximately 20 kilometres away. Heronimus Lamawuran, a regional official, reported that evacuations began in the early hours of the morning. Video footage provided to news outlets depicts scenes of destruction: ash-covered residents, flaming debris, and buildings engulfed in flames.

Officials from Indonesia’s disaster response agency have issued warnings about potential secondary hazards, including flash floods and cold lava flows, due to the volcanic materials. The local government has declared a 58-day state of emergency, enabling the central government to provide assistance to around 10,000 affected individuals.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki has experienced sporadic eruptions since December, with advisories already in place urging people to stay a minimum of 3 kilometres from the volcano. The prolonged activity has caused significant economic disruptions, with heavy ashfall damaging agricultural crops, including cashew nuts, and forcing hundreds to seek shelter in temporary housing.

Located along the volatile Pacific "Ring of Fire," Indonesia is home to roughly 130 active volcanoes. Many rural communities risk living close to these natural hazards due to the fertile soil they provide, despite the constant threat of eruptions.