Catholic nun among ten dead in volcanic eruption in Indonesia

(OSV News) – At least 10 people, including a Catholic nun, have died in a volcanic eruption on the predominantly Catholic Indonesian island of Flores.

Lewotobi Laki Laki Mountain in Wulanggitang Subdistrict, East Flores District spewed ash and lava on November 3, showering surrounding areas with fireballs.

Sister Nikolin Padjo of the Servants of the Holy Spirit congregation died when her monastery in Boru collapsed during the eruption.

Her colleague, Sister Sinta Eren, said Sister Nikolin, head of the monastery in Boru, was found dead.

“It’s so sad, she was happy last night,” Sister Sinta said, referring to the recreational activities Sister Nikolin participated in with her colleagues before the fatal incident.

Among the buildings damaged was the San Dominggo Hokeng Middle Seminary in Wulanggitang District.

Several seminarians were injured.

Some church institutions, including the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission of the Society of Divine Word, are mobilizing funds to help victims.

Government authorities have evacuated several villages and raised the alert level to the highest level in a four-tier system.

According to the National Disaster Management Agency, nine bodies have been identified.

Boru resident Yoseph Stanis, 70, said he was sleeping when the volcano erupted and an earthquake struck. “The sudden power outage and the pouring sand caused us to panic,” he said.

Non Wolor, a 19-year-old Boru resident, said his family used two motorcycles to escape. “My father panicked because he had to save my grandmother,” he said.

Wolor said since the roads were filled with sand, many had minor accidents.

In January, several serious eruptions occurred on the mountain, prompting authorities to raise the alert status to the highest level and evacuate at least 2,000 residents.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area of ​​intense volcanic and seismic activity.

In December 2023, an eruption at one of the country’s most active volcanoes, Mount Marapi in West Sumatra, killed at least 24 climbers, most of them university students.

And in May, more than 60 people died after heavy rains washed volcanic material from the Marapi into residential areas and swept away houses.

That same month, Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi province erupted more than half a dozen times, forcing thousands to flee.

This report was originally published in UCA News, Union of Catholic Asian News.