Mount Lewotobi’s eruption Tuesday evening, June 17th, in Indonesia, saw the volcano hurling ash 6.8 miles into the sky. Villages near the volcano had to evacuate while tsunami concerns spread to neighboring countries. The massive ash cloud led multiple nations to issue alerts before authorities determined the threat had passed.
Ring of Fire Volcano Eruption Claims Latest Victims
Indonesia sits in the Ring of Fire, where giant tectonic plates crash together which causes frequent volcanic activity. This island nation hosts 120 active volcanoes scattered across its territory, home to 270 million people. Regular earthquake activity shakes the country due to its location along fault lines surrounding the Pacific Ocean. There are very few places on Earth that experience as much volcanic activity as Indonesia.
Mount Lewotobi ranks among Indonesia’s most dangerous peaks. The local people call the twin peaks Laki-Laki and Perempuan, meaning “husband and wife” in Indonesian, a fitting description since the smaller, more active Laki-laki erupts frequently while its taller partner Perempuan has remained largely calm since the 1930s. Multiple eruptions struck the mountain throughout 2024, with November bringing the most devastating impact. Those November eruptions sent hot rock and debris racing 4 miles from the crater, killing nine people and injuring dozens more while forcing thousands from their homes. March and May had already brought earlier eruptions, each time forcing emergency agencies to raise alert levels to maximum severity.