Mt. Lewotobi in Indonesia erupts, prompting aviation warning

JAKARTA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Mount Lewotobi, located in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province, erupted on Wednesday, triggering a flight warning and safety advisories, the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center said.

The eruption released a column of ash up to 3,500 meters into the sky, and the thick gray cloud moved westward and northwestward of the crater.

To mitigate risks posed by the volcanic ash, a Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation has been issued at the orange level, the second-highest warning, banning planes from flying below 5,000 meters in the vicinity of Mount Lewotobi. Aircraft should also exercise caution regarding the presence of volcanic ash, which can disturb their flights.

To protect the residents living on the slope of the volcano from the risks of hot clouds and volcanic materials, the center has issued safety advisories. The residents, tourists, and visitors should not engage in any activities within a radius of 6 km from the volcano.

The communities living near the volcano should be aware of the potential for lava floods induced by rivers originating from the peak of the volcano when heavy rains occur.

The residents whose living areas are reachable by the volcanic ash spread should wear facemasks or nose-mouth covers to protect themselves from respiratory system hazards.

Mount Lewotobi, standing at 1,584 meters, is one of Indonesia's 127 active volcanoes.■