JAKARTA, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, situated in the Indonesian eastern province of East Nusa Tenggara, erupted on Monday morning, spewing a towering ash cloud 18 km high above its summit, the country's volcanology agency said.
The eruption occurred at 11:05 a.m. local time, with thick gray to black clouds moving northward, northeastward, and northwestward from the crater, causing flight disruptions.
"This eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 47.3 mm and a temporary duration of approximately 6 minutes 26 seconds," said Fajaruddin M. Balido, officer of the Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki Volcano Observation Post.
He said the eruption was accompanied by a loud bang and hot clouds as far as 5 kilometers to the north and northeast.
Residents living around the volcano are advised to be aware of the potential for rain-induced lava floods in rivers originating from the crater during periods of heavy rainfall. People in areas affected by ashfall are urged to wear masks or nose-and-mouth coverings to protect their respiratory systems from volcanic ash.
The 1,584-meter-high mountain is one of 127 active volcanoes in Indonesia. ■
