Indonesia volcano erupts as alert level raised

Jakarta: A volcano in eastern Indonesia has erupted multiple times, spewing a column of ash kilometres into the sky after authorities raised its alert...

Jakarta: A volcano in eastern Indonesia has erupted multiple times, spewing a column of ash kilometres into the sky after authorities raised its alert level to the highest, prompting a local airport to suspend operations on Saturday.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,584-metre-high twin-peaked volcano on Flores island, launched into a series of eruptions Friday evening, with the largest at 10:46 pm local time sending volcanic material six kilometres (nealy four miles) above its peak, the volcanology agency said in a statement.

Volcanic activities resumed on Saturday morning, with the agency recording several eruptions including one that sent an ash tower 2.5 kilometres into the sky.

The eruptions came after the geology agency raised the volcano's alert level to the highest of Indonesia's four-tiered system on Friday night.

Geology agency head Muhammad Wafid warned residents and tourists to stay at least six kilometres from the volcano's crater and said volcanic ash could disrupt airport operations.