Pakistan, Oct. 15 -- Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted early Wednesday, sending a massive ash column 10 kilometers into the sky and prompting authorities to raise the alert level to its highest stage. The eruption, which began at 1:35 a.m. local time, lasted around nine minutes and followed an earlier blast just two hours before. Officials from the Geological confirmed the volcano has shown a sharp increase in activity since Monday, raising fears of further eruptions in the coming days.

The 's head, Muhammad Wafid, urged residents to remain alert and avoid areas within a six- to seven-kilometer radius of the volcano. He also warned of potential volcanic mudflows if heavy rainfall occurs, which could endanger nearby villages. A...