In Indonesia, at least 10 people lost their lives after a series of volcanic eruptions took place in the eastern part of the country, spewing explosive plumes of lava and ash on surrounding villages and burning down several houses. Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation said, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, located in the southeastern part of Flores island, erupted last night, triggering more than a dozen earthquakes and forcing authorities to evacuate several nearby villages. The government warned that more earthquakes could strike the region. The eruption caused damage in seven villages, home to ten thousand people, many of whom fled to other villages. The authorities warned residents to stay more than seven kilometres away from the volcano.

Indonesia’s thousands of islands are situated along the so-called Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates clash under the surface of the Pacific Ocean, causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The nation’s volcanoes are some of the most active in the world and have caused some of the deadliest eruptions in history. More than 20 people were killed last year when Mount Merapi erupted in Sumatra.