Indonesian volcano Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupts killing nine as safety zone to widen

Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki has erupted at least three more times, spewing an ash column nine kilometres high.

A big eruption on Sunday by the volcano in East Nusa Tenggara province killed nine people.

Since then, authorities have been scrambling to evacuate 16,000 people from villages nearest the crater as eruptions continue.

“The eruption accompanied by the ejection of hot lava and hot clouds to the west and northwest of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki is still occurring,” said Muhammad Wafid, head of the volcanology agency.

The agency plans to expand the restricted zone from eight kilometres to nine kilometres southwest to the northwest of the crater.

Evacuation efforts continue, with some 10,700 people removed by Friday evening, data from Indonesia’s disaster agency showed.

On Friday, Mount Lewotobi erupted several times, with an ash column up to 10km high.