More than 67 killed after lahar from Mount Lewotolo hits two villages, Indonesia

Torrential rains dumped by Tropical Storm "Seroja" produced deadly lahar on the slopes of Mount Lewotolo volcano early April 4, 2021. According to the AAP, the total number of casualties attributed to Seroja rose to 155 as of early Monday, April 6. 72 people are still missing.

The death toll includes 67 people who died in a rain-triggered avalanche of debris from the Lewotolo volcano on Lembata island, said Raditya Djati, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency.

Another 49 people were killed on nearby Adonara island and 12 on Alor island.

Lahars produced on the slopes of Lewotolo hit two villages — Lamawolo and Jontona, Head of Kominfo Lembata district confirmed.

Based on the information provided by the Lewotolo monitoring post, volcanologists have warned villagers that they were prone to lahar flows and asked to evacuate.

Geological summary

Anchoring the eastern end of an elongated peninsula that is connected to Lembata (formerly Lomblen) Island by a narrow isthmus and extends northward into the Flores Sea, Lewotolo rises to 1 423 m (4 668 feet).

Lewotolo is a symmetrical stratovolcano as viewed from the north and east. A small cone with a 130-m-wide (426 feet) crater constructed at the SE side of a larger crater forms the volcano's high point. Many lava flows have reached the coastline.

Historical eruptions, recorded since 1660, have consisted of explosive activity from the summit crater.

Featured image credit: Zona Line News (stillshot)