A powerful eruption of the Levotobi volcano in Indonesia occurred: a column of ash rose to a height of 18 km (video)
On July 7, a powerful eruption of the Levotobi volcano took place on the Indonesian island of Flores. The column of volcanic ash reached a height of 18 kilometers, covering the surrounding villages with ash, informs AR.
“An eruption of this scale certainly carries with it an increased potential for danger, in particular the impact on aviation. We will conduct a re-assessment to expand the danger zone that needs to be cleared of villagers and tourist activities.” — said Muhammad Wafid, head of the Geological Agency of Indonesia.
During the eruption, the Geological Survey recorded an avalanche of red-hot gas mixed with rock debris and lava that descended five kilometers from the crater. With the help of drones, observers recorded how lava fills the crater, which indicates the active rise of magma from the depths, which causes volcanic earthquakes. The authorities raised the danger level to the highest and extended the evacuation zone to seven kilometers, in view of the increasing frequency of eruptions.
At the beginning of the year, due to previous eruptions, about 6,500 people were evacuated from the area, and the local airport of France Seda still remains closed due to continued seismic activity. Levotobi Laki-Laki volcano, 1,584 meters high, is the “twin” of Levotobi Perempuan volcano, located in the Flores Timur area.
The eruption on July 7 was one of the most powerful in Indonesia in the last 15 years, since the catastrophic eruption of the Merapi volcano on the island of Java in 2010, when 353 people died and more than 350 thousand were forced to leave their homes.
