Volcano erupts in eastern Indonesia, killing at least 10
Lava and fiery rocks were thrown up to 6km from Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki’s crater in East Nusa Tenggara province
01:24
At least 10 Indonesians killed in latest eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano
The eruption at Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki around midnight spewed thick brownish ash as high as 2,000 metres (6,500 feet) into the air and hot ashes hit several villages, burning down houses including a convent of Catholic nuns, said Firman Yosef, an official at the Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki monitoring post.
He said volcanic material was thrown up to 6km (3.7 miles) from its crater, blanketing nearby villages and towns with tonnes of volcanic debris and forcing residents to flee.
Rescuers were still searching for more bodies buried under collapsed houses, said Abdul Muhari, the National Disaster Management Agency’s spokesman.
Muhari said all the bodies, including a child, were found within a 4km (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 fled to relatives’ houses while the local government is readying schools to use as temporary shelters.
