Indonesia's Lewotolok Volcano Erupts, Spews 4 Km High Ash Plume Into The Sky, Thousands Evacuated

A volcano in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province erupted on November 29. The volcano spewed ash & smoke as high as four kilometers into the sky, forcing more than 2,700 residents to seek refuge, the country's disaster mitigation agency told Reuters. Indonesia has nearly 130 active volcanoes, more than any other country. While many show high levels of activity it can be weeks or even months before an eruption. About 2,780 people from 26 villages had sought refuge, although no casualties have so far been reported. The Transportation Ministry said a flight warning had been issued after the eruption and a local airport had been closed as ash rained down on many areas of the island. Indonesia's Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center said on its website that the area near the volcano is likely to be inundated with "hot clouds, lava stream, lava avalanche, and poisonous gas". Lewotolok has been erupting off and on since October 2017. The 5,423-meter (17,790-foot) mountain is one of three currently erupting in Indonesia along with Merapi on Java island and Sinabung on Sumatra island.