TOKYO - Japan’s weather agency said on July 7 that it is assessing the possibility of tsunami reaching the country after a large volcanic eruption was observed on the Indonesian island of Flores.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,584m-high twin-peaked volcano on the tourist island of Flores, erupted at 11.05am local time (12.10pm, Japan time) and if any tsunami waves were generated, they would reach Japan’s southern island prefecture of Okinawa around 3.30pm (2.30pm, Singapore time) at the earliest, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki is abo ut 3,913km away from Japan’s Okinawa.

Indonesian authorities on July 7 warned of the possibility of hazardous lahar floods – a type of mud or debris flow of volcanic materials – if heavy rain occurs, particularly for communities near rivers.

There were no immediate reports of damages or casualties.

In June

dozens of flights to and from Bali

were cancelled after the volcano erupted. Volcanic ash rained down on several communities around the volcano and forced the evacuation of at least one village.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted multiple times in November 2024 , killing nine people and forcing thousands to evacuate, as well as the cancellation of scores of international flights to Bali.

There were no immediate reports of cancelled flights after the July 7 eruption.

Laki-Laki, which means man in Indonesian, is twinned with the calmer but taller 1,703m volcano named Perempuan, after the Indonesian word for woman.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”. AFP, KYODO NEWS

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