On November 4th, 2024, a Volcano on Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted at around midnight. The explosion killed at least 10 people as rescuers continue to search.

According to a article on CNN written by the Associated Press, “The eruption at Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki around midnight spewed thick brownish ash as high as 2,000 meters (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” (Nov 4th, 2024).

According to the same CNN article, Abdul Muhari, the National Disaster Management Agency’s spokesperson, rescuers were still searching for more bodies buried under collapsed houses. Muhari also said that all the bodies, including a child, were found with a 4-kilometer (2.4 mile) radius of the crater

According to Jakobus Herin from AP News, “About 6,500 people were evacuated in January after Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki began erupting, spewing thick clouds and forcing the government to close the island’s Frans Seda Airport. No casualties or major damage were reported, but the airport has remained closed since then due to seismic activity” (Nov 4th, 2024).

According to the same article, Muhammad Wafid, the head of Geology Agency at the Energy and Mineral Resources ministry said in a conference video that, “there was a different character between January’s eruption and Monday’s eruption due to a blockage of magma in the crater, which reduced detectible seismic activity while building up pressure” (Nov 4th, 2024).