At least six people died after a volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted several times overnight, officials said Monday, raising the alert level to the highest of a four-level system.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, located on the popular tourist island of Flores, spewed a tower of ash and lava into nearby villages that were forced to evacuate.

“According to our coordination with local authorities, six deaths have been confirmed,” said Abdul Muhari, a spokesman for the country’s disaster management agency, in an interview with Kompas TV.

Video footage showed villages near the volcano covered in thick ash, with some areas on fire.

The country’s volcanology agency raised the alert level to the highest level and told locals and tourists not to carry out activities within seven kilometers of the crater.

“There has been a significant increase in volcanic activity on Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki,” a press release said.

It warned there was a potential for rain-induced lava flooding and told locals to wear masks to avoid the effects of volcanic ash.

The mountain had several major eruptions in January, prompting authorities at the time to raise the alert to the highest level and evacuate at least 2,000 residents.

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