Ryan Shea

Mount Ile Lewotolok, a stratovolcano, (a volcano made of multiple layers of hardened magma) poised in Indonesia, had been a fairly inactive volcano for over four centuries. That is, until 2010, when it erupted for the first time in years, causing mass property damage and two recorded deaths, and had resulted in many further eruptions afterwards, coming to a head this year in 2020, when it erupted once more. Indonesian locals and authorities are beginning to take proper action for dealing with something so catastrophic.

As a result of the eruption spewing heavy ash and toxic gases 2.5 miles upwards, Indonesian authorities have declared an evacuation zone to be outside the parameter of 2.5 miles from the crater of the volcano, as to prevent lung damage for the locals. While residential areas aren’t necessarily abundant around Ile Lewotolok, ash was still able to rain down onto airports near it. As a result, flights to and from Indonesia have been grounded while recovering from the aftermath. What should be noted is that the eruption only lasted for approximately 10 minutes, and no casualties have been reported. Unlike the eruption in 2010. However, this hasn’t stopped mass panic among people who lived in the Archipelago where the volcano is located.

Indonesia’s four-scale system had been raised from its lowest tier, being alert, to its second tier, being advisory, which led to the evacuation of almost 2,800 people from multiple villages on the Archipelago. In their time of refuge, the citizens are growing ever needy and dreary, while their villages haven’t yet been demolished, the volcano’s aftermath residue could very well cause avalanches of lava rocks to swarm villages. One local, 17-year old, Muhammad Ilham, quotes their situation by saying that, “the residents are panicked and they’re still looking for refuge and in need of money right now”. Ile Lewotolok thankfully has yet to claim any lives, but it has a high chance of putting Indonesian citizens into poverty in just a matter of days lest a plan for reconstruction is crafted soon.