Indonesia Volcano Erupts, Spewing Ash 8km High

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano on Indonesia's Flores island erupted on March 20, shooting ash 8km into the sky, prompting officials to raise the alert level to 4, the highest level, and causing the cancellation of several international flights.

The eruption, which lasted for 11 minutes, was preceded by hundreds of earthquakes from March 13-20, and led to the imposition of an exclusion zone around the volcano. The Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation advised people to stay away from the area, with a 7km radius in the southwest and 8km radius in the northeast sectors. No injuries have been reported, but residents were warned of the potential for volcanic mudflow due to heavy rainfall.

The volcano's eruption also raised fears of a potential tsunami in Japan, but none have been reported. The eruption is not the first for Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, which had erupted multiple times in November, killing nine people and forcing evacuations. The volcano, located in the Flores Timur district, is a twin volcano with Mount Lewotobi Perempuan.

The eruption has caused disruptions to air travel, with at least seven international flights from Bali canceled, including six Jetstar flights to Australia and one Air Asia flight to Kuala Lumpur. Several other flights were delayed due to the eruption. The country's geological agency has raised the volcano's alert level to the highest, and an exclusion zone has been imposed around the volcano.

The situation is being closely monitored by authorities, who are warning residents of the potential dangers of the eruption, including volcanic mudflow and lava flows in rivers. The eruption is a reminder of the volcanic activity in the region and the importance of being prepared for natural disasters.