At least 10 dead as volcanic eruption burns houses in Indonesia
Ash was spewed 6,500ft into the air after Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted on the remote island of Flores.
At least 10 people have died as a series of volcanic eruptions widens on the remote Indonesian island of Flores, the country’s National Disaster Management Agency said.
The eruption at Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki just after midnight on Monday spewed thick brownish ash as high as 2,000 metres (6,500 feet) into the air and hot ashes hit a nearby village, burning down several houses including a convent of Catholic nuns, said Firman Yosef, an official at the Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki monitoring post.
Rescuers are still searching for more bodies buried under collapsed houses, said Abdul Muhari, the National Disaster Management Agency’s spokesperson. Mr Muhari said all the bodies, including a child, were found with a 2.4 mile radius of the crater.
He said at least 10,000 people have been affected by the eruption in six villages of Wulanggitang District, and four villages in Ile Bura district. Some have fled to relatives’ houses while the local government is readying schools to use as temporary shelters.
