Authorities in Indonesia’s Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano’s violent eruption on Thursday night caused thick ash clouds to fall more than 8 kilometers ( 5 miles ) into the sky, prompting them to raise the alert level to its highest level.
According to the information agency Reuters, the huge explosion, which follows a number of smaller ones since March 13, has also caused flight delays, including refunds by an American aircraft.
The mountain, which is situated in East Nusa Tenggara state, has seen increased activity for more than a month.
Residents and visitors should stay at least 7-8 kilometers ( 4.4-5 miles ) away from the volcano’s southwest and northeast sectors, according to Al Jazeera, Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation has now implemented strict safety measures.
The volcanic dust has sparked fears about air travel, especially for flights to and from Bali, a big tourist destination. Making trip safety a top priority, because volcanic ash can be dangerous for aircraft engines.
More than 120 effective volcanoes are located in Indonesia, which is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
