Mt. Lewotobi erupts on Flores Island

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Hundreds of families living on the slope of Mount Lewotobi in Wulanggitang subdistrict, East Flores regency, East Nusa Tenggara, have been evacuated to safe areas following the mountain's eruption on Sunday.

Chief of the local social affairs office Stanis Tafi said on Monday that according to the latest reports from the East Flores regent, the mountain was still spewing out hot lava and stones, affecting a wider area of the regency.

No fatalities have been reported thus far.

"According to the report, the eruption was accompanied by a strong tremor that was felt throughout the island and a vomit of billowing ash and hot lava that reached 2,000 meters high," he said.

He said at least five villages in the subdistrict were covered by the thick ash from the eruption.

The provincial administration has dispatched five tons of rice and bottled water to the evacuees. -- JP