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Japan's Meteorological Agency is closely monitoring the potential threat of a tsunami following a major eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki in Indonesia. The volcano erupted on Thursday, sending a massive plume of hot ash and gas 8,200 feet into the air, just days after a previous eruption claimed 10 lives and injured 64 others.

The recent eruption, which did not immediately result in any casualties, has raised significant concerns for the safety of tens of thousands of residents in the surrounding areas. At least seven eruptions were recorded, with a large plume of black smoke reaching approximately 8,000 meters above the volcano's crater.

Located on the island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province, the 5,197-foot stratovolcano has been highly active since a powerful eruption early Monday. The latest explosion projected rocks, lava, and gas as far as 0.6 miles from the crater, according to Indonesia's Center for Volcanology and Disaster Mitigation.

Whole villages have been left in turmoil by the eruption, which displaced more than 10,000 residents. Among the affected, 4,400 people have sought refuge in temporary shelters as the eruption's lava flows and ash clouds destroyed homes, schools, and infrastructure, including a convent. Plans are under consideration to permanently relocate additional 16,000 people as a long-term safety measure.

Indonesia's Volcanic Disaster Mitigation Center has escalated Lewotobi Laki Laki’s alert level to its highest classification with an exclusion zone extending 4.3 miles around the volcano. In the short term, the government is focusing on setting up emergency shelters and distributing aid, though permanent solutions are also being evaluated for communities at risk.

Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki and its companion, Mount Lewotobi Perempuan, are a well-known volcanic pair in East Flores. Despite their legendary role in local folklore as the "husband-and-wife mountains," their eruptions serve as a constant reminder of the geological dangers in the region.

Already this year, in January, the volcano's activity necessitated the evacuation of 6,500 people and the temporary closure of the island’s Fransiskus Xaverius Seda Airport. The nearby Mount Marapi in West Sumatra also experienced multiple eruptions in late October, covering surrounding villages in ash.

These incidents underscore the volatility of Indonesia's 120 active volcanoes, which form part of the Pacific Ocean's "Ring of Fire," one of the most seismically active areas on Earth. Experts emphasize that long-term measures, such as improved early-warning systems and disaster-proof infrastructure, are crucial to safeguarding the country's 280 million inhabitants scattered across over 17,000 islands.