Jakarta
Following the fatal eruption of Mount Lewotobi in East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia’s government plans to relocate thousands of residents living in high-risk zones. The eruption, which occurred late Sunday night, claimed 10 lives, injured 63, and caused significant damage to homes and buildings, Suharyanto, chief of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), on Wednesday announced the relocation of 2,734 affected families to prevent future tragedies.
“We cannot take unnecessary risks,” Suharyanto said, emphasizing the need to protect future generations. The relocation will involve moving residents from a seven-kilometer radius around the volcano, an area where all activities, except recovery operations, have been banned.
The eruption of Mount Lewotobi, standing 1,584 meters tall, has displaced over 4,400 people. Most of the residents, particularly those in the most dangerous zones, have agreed to the move. Many evacuees are currently sheltering in evacuation centers or with relatives.
Mount Lewotobi is one of Indonesia’s 127 active volcanoes. The country, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, frequently experiences seismic and volcanic activity, posing ongoing risks to its population.
