*** Indonesia Volcano Erupts Repeatedly, Airport Operations Suspended | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Indonesia Volcano Erupts Repeatedly, Airport Operations Suspended

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Jakarta : A highly active volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted several times on Friday, sending large ash clouds into the sky and forcing the closure of a nearby airport.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on Flores Island spewed volcanic material up to 2.5 kilometres above its crater, prompting authorities to maintain a five-kilometre exclusion zone around the volcano.

Airport operations in Maumere, about 60 kilometres from the volcano, were suspended, disrupting at least five domestic flights.

Officials also warned communities near rivers to remain alert for possible lahar flows - dangerous floods of volcanic mud and debris that can occur during heavy rainfall.

The volcano remains under Indonesia's second-highest alert level. Last year, a major eruption from Lewotobi Laki-Laki sent ash 18 kilometres into the air and disrupted flights to and from Bali.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is one of the world's most volcanically active countries.

Pic Credit: AFP