Indonesia Rings In New Year With Five Erupting Volcanos; Thousands Evacuated

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

JAKARTA (Worthy News) – Indonesia ushered in the New Year with five erupting volcanos, prompting authorities to evacuate thousands of people while warning climbers to stay away after a volcanic tragedy killed 23 people last month.

Most people, up to 3,000 residents from 28 villages, were rushed to temporary shelters amid heightened volcanic activities in a volcano in eastern Indonesia, local officials confirmed.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in East Nusa Tenggara province erupted several times in recent weeks.

That included an eruption on Monday that spewed volcanic ash 1.5 kilometers (4,800 feet) above its peak, said the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) in Indonesia. Other reports said it sent a plume of ash and smoke up to 10 kilometers (33,000 feet) high.

Authorities raised the volcano’s status this week to the second-highest of Indonesia’s four-tiered alert levels. They expanded the exclusion zone from two to four kilometers (13,100 feet) around its crater.

The volcano’s ashes also forced Frans Seda Airport, located more than 50 miles (80 kilometers away), to close since Monday, state news agency Antara reported.

Elsewhere in the province, eruptions were reported around Mount Ile Lewotolok.

MORE ERUPTIONS

The other three erupted volcanos prompting concerns included Mount Dukono, an active volcano located in the northern part of Halmahera island in the North Maluku province.

In the same province, the Mount Ibu volcano on the northwest coast of Halmahera island also worried authorities. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries there.

However, officials also kept a close eye on Mount Merapi, where residents still mourn the 23 climbers killed last month following an eruption there.

Mount Merapi, which means “mountain of fire,” was still erupting this week, underscoring the challenges faced by Indonesia.

The Southeast Asian archipelago forming the world’s largest Muslim nation sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of intense volcanic and seismic activity.

Indonesia has nearly 130 active volcanoes, although the five erupting mountains have raised the most attention in recent weeks.

Yet, “We have begun 2024 with prayers,” hopeful Christians told Worthy News.

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