Volcano eruption in Flores: 10 dead including a nun

Around midnight, large boulders ejected from Lewotobi Laki-laki, hitting buildings up to 6 kilometres away. The victims - among them Sr Nikolin Padjo, Missionary Servant of the Holy Spirit - were caught in their sleep by the fiery lapilli. In the Minor Seminary in Hokeng, roofs were destroyed and structures burned, injuring 14 people. Caritas Indonesia is coordinating aid with the dioceses of Larantuka and Maumere.

Maumere (AsiaNews) - Last night, around midnight, the clear sky above the Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano turned red. At 1,703 metres high, located on the island of Flores in eastern Indonesia, it erupted at 11.59pm local time.

The phenomenon was not anticipated by any alarm and claimed at least 10 victims, who were hit by large, fiery lapilli in their homes as they slept. Among them was Sr. Nikolin Padjo, Missionary Servant of the Holy Spirit (SSpS), who was also caught in her sleep.

A huge flaming boulder fell into her room, and the entire house and adjacent structures immediately caught fire. This is not the first time the Lewotobi Laki-laki has erupted. But last night, before the eruption, due to the absence of danger warnings, people were not prepared for possible disasters.

Sr. Herdiana - a sister of the deceased nun - spoke to AsiaNews confirming the tragedy and pointing out that all the other nuns are seeking refuge elsewhere in the regency of Eastern Flores. The National Disaster Management Agency (NDAB) has ordered the evacuation of the entire area within a 7 km radius of the volcano; residents are moving to villages 20 km away.

The local government has declared a state of emergency for 58 days to allow the central government to provide aid to the approximately 10,000 affected residents. The authorities are still collecting data on the number of displaced people. A new report on the situation today, the day after the eruption, confirms that an entire family also died as a result of last night's eruption.

Caritas in the dioceses of Larantuka and Caritas Indonesia are finalising their humanitarian response to the emergency. The executive director, Fr Freddy Rante Taruk, has arranged to coordinate the response with the two local dioceses, Larantuka and Maumere.

‘All the inhabitants of our complex have fled to safer places with only the clothes they are wearing and without anything to take with them,’ said a nun, urging emergency humanitarian aid to help the victims. In addition to the local complex of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit, the San Domingo Minor Seminary in Hokeng, 6 km from the crater, was also severely affected by last night's eruption.

A major eruption like this, which lashed residential areas near the volcano, had never happened before, local priests told AsiaNews on a forum of seminary alumni. The last eruption had occurred in 2023, but last night's eruption caused an unprecedented disaster. The San Domingo Minor Seminary, based in Hokeng, suffered serious damage due to its proximity to Lewotobi Laki-laki. It has 232 seminarians, 42 employees and teachers and 12 priests and seminarians of the major. All were given shelter in the Lewolaga Paruch church, run by the Missionaries of the Holy Family (MSF).

From Hokeng Seminary to Lewolaga it takes almost 30 minutes by motorbike, while the distance is only 15 km. The fall of huge stones and other materials has severely damaged the roofs of the structure. All the roofs of the building are completely damaged. At least 14 people living in the seminary suffered more or less serious injuries. Many structures were set on fire due to falling lapilli. Pictures that have been disseminated show a thick layer of ash on the streets, and moving residents wearing protective masks.

The Reuters news agency points out that Indonesia is located on the Pacific Fire Belt, an area of high seismic activity located above many tectonic plates. The eruption of the Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano follows a series of other eruptions. In May, a volcano on Halmahera Island, Ibu, caused the evacuation of seven villages. North Sulawesi's Ruang volcano also erupted in May and prompted the authorities to evacuate more than 12,000 people. In addition, the tragic effects of the eruption of the Marapi volcano in West Sumatra province last May also killed more than 60 people.