Long plumes of ash, as high as 8,000 meters (26,250 feet), were spewed into the air as Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted eight times on Thursday.
The first eruption was recorded at 00.40 am local time, with another blast following two hours later. Between 6 am and 11 am, five more eruptions occurred, culminating in the massive ash cloud.
The Indonesian volcanology agency has maintained the highest alert level for the volcano due to its active state. Relief efforts are underway to relocate affected families, and plans are in place to construct new homes, with thousands having been evacuated.
“We aim to complete new housing within six months,” said Suharyanto, head of the disaster agency. Around 5,800 people from the most affected areas have been evacuated, and officials are still assessing the full scope of the disaster.
Indonesia lies along the “pacific ring of fire,” a region known for its intense seismic activity, situated on several tectonic plates
The eruptions follow a deadly explosion on Sunday that killed nine people and destroyed over 2,000 homes.