Laki-Laki, one of the two stratovolcanoes that make up Mount Lewotobi on the Indonesian island of Flores, erupted earlier this week in a series of devastating explosions—the aftermath of which has been captured by US satellites.
The major eruption launched hot ash 6,500 feet into the air, blanketing nearby villages, killing and injuring many people and displacing thousands. The newly released images from the Landsat 9 satellite, captured a day after the eruption on Nov. 5, reveal the extent of the ash fallout.
In the false-color image taken by the OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager-2) on Landsat 9, a darkened landscape west of the volcano’s crater clearly marks areas affected by the recent ash deposits.
Volcanic material from the eruption extended as far as 4 miles, impacting over 10,000 people across multiple villages, according to Indonesia’s disaster management agency.
Indonesia Volcano Eruption 2024: NASA Image
NASA Earth Observatory
The eruptions on Nov. 4 followed 10 months of volcanic activity, during which Laki-Laki regularly emitted ash plumes drifting west. In the months of August and September, ash from Laki-Laki’s eruptions even reached Frans Xavier Seda Airport, roughly 52 miles west, resulting in temporary closures due to unsafe conditions.
Indonesia’s volcano monitoring agency reported a marked increase in seismic activity in the days leading up to the major Nov. 4 eruption, registering 119 deep volcanic earthquakes on Nov. 1 alone, compared to a typical daily average of 10 to 12.
The escalation culminated in a deadly eruption that killed nine people, injured 64 and forced around 4,400 residents to seek refuge in emergency shelters.
Critical damage was inflicted on local infrastructure, including the destruction of seven schools, nearly two dozen homes and a convent on the predominantly Catholic island.
A further eruption occurred on Thursday, sending towering ash plumes even higher than on Monday.
Although no additional casualties have so far been reported, but residents in surrounding villages remain at high risk.
Where Is Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki?
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki is located in the East Flores district of East Nusa Tenggara province. Laki-Laki and Perempuan are often referred to as the “husband and wife,” with both peaks making up Mount Lewotobi.
The map below gives a detailed view of the volcano’s location.
Recognizing the ongoing threat, the Indonesian government announced plans for the permanent relocation of thousands of residents living within a four-mile radius of the volcano’s crater.
The National Disaster Management Agency said it aims to provide a long-term solution to protect communities from future eruptions.
Preliminary estimates suggest that more than 16,000 residents live in the closest villages. Calculations are underway to determine the total number of people to be relocated.
Satellite data from the United Nations Satellite Centre posted on X highlighted the scale of the evacuation challenge, indicating that approximately 26,000 people reside within around 4.5 miles of the volcano.
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