Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupts, spewing ash more than 30,000 feet into the sky

Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted on Wednesday, shooting volcanic ash more than 30,000 feet into the sky, forcing authorities to raise the alert to its highest level.

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted on Wednesday, shooting volcanic ash more than 30,000 feet into the sky, the country’s volcanology agency said, forcing authorities to raise the alert system to its highest level.

Located in East Nusa Tenggara province, the volcano erupted on Wednesday at 1:35 a.m. (2:35 p.m. Tuesday ET) for around nine minutes, the country’s Geological Agency said in a statement.

It erupted again on Wednesday morning at 9:21 a.m., spewing ash more than 26,000 feet high, the agency said, for about three minutes.

Late on Tuesday, the agency raised its alert level to the highest point after recording “significant rising of the volcano’s activities” since Monday, its head, Muhammad Wafid, said.

“People living near the volcano should be aware of the potential volcanic mudflow if heavy rain occurs,” Wafid said, adding that people should clear a three- to four-mile area around the site.