Rumbling since October, Mount Rokatenda, on the tiny eastern Indonesian Island of Palue, finally erupted. It started by shooting ash and smoke more than a mile into the air, and then the volcano began spewing hot lava onto the nearby Rokirole Village and it didn’t stop for nearly four hours. The gushing molten rock killed 6 people sleeping in that beach village, which happens to be in an area that’s been restricted by authorities since Mount Rokatenda started showing signs of activity almost a year ago.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency says the victims include at least three adults, and two children, and nearly 3,000 other people were evacuated from the area. Scary what Mother Nature can do when she gets all hot and bothered.
