JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A series of volcanic eruptions from Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki on the Indonesian island of Flores killed nine people and injured dozens more as buildings collapsed and terrified residents ran for their lives in the darkness.

Monday’s eruptions affected more than 10,000 people in 10 villages. About 4,400 villagers moved into makeshift emergency shelters after the eruption, which destroyed seven schools, nearly two dozen homes and a monastery on the predominantly Catholic island.

Authorities on Wednesday delivered tons of logistical supplies and aid to displaced people and warned the thousands who fled not to return home, as rescuers, police and soldiers continued to comb devastated villages for survivors, despite no missing persons have been reported.

Here’s a closer look at the eruption and its aftermath.

How many active volcanoes are there in Indonesia?

The 1,584 meter (5,197 ft) Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki is one of 120 active volcanoes in the country. Indonesia is prone to earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic activity because it lies along the “Ring of Fire,” a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean.

Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation has recorded 4,796 volcanic eruptions in the vast archipelago since January. Mount Ibu in North Maluku Province erupted 1,930 times, Mount Semeru in East Java Province 1,634 times and Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki 872 times.

About 6,500 people were evacuated in January after Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki began erupting, spewing thick clouds and forcing the government to close the island’s Frans Seda airport. No casualties or major damage were reported, but the airport has since remained closed due to seismic activity.

Why was the most recent volcanic eruption so powerful?

Since January, Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki has erupted up to six times almost every day, but its activity dropped sharply in early November, said Muhammad Wafid, who heads the geology agency under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

The analysis showed there was a magma blockage in the crater, which reduced detectable seismic activity and increased pressure, Wafid said.

“The eruptions that occurred since Friday were due to the accumulation of hidden energy,” Wafid said, adding that the agency had recommended that the volcano’s alert status be raised to the highest level.

“Currently, there is no technology capable of determining when a volcanic eruption will occur and how large the eruption will be,” he said, “What we do is monitor for signs that an eruption will occur, but we don’t know when will take place. it will be.”

How common are deadly eruptions in Indonesia?

Many eruptions in Indonesia are minor and cause little or no damage, but some can be deadly.

Mount Marapi erupted in December 2023, killing 24 climbers and injuring others who were caught in its sudden weekend eruption. Two mountain climbing routes have since been closed. Five months later, monsoon rains triggered a landslide of cold mud and lava from Mount Marapi, causing rivers to burst their banks. The flood tore apart the mountain villages and swept away people and dozens of houses, killing 67 people.

A December 2021 eruption of Mount Semeruthe highest volcano on the densely populated island of Java, left 48 people dead and 36 disappeared in villages that were buried in layers of mud. Mount Merapi also erupted in 2010, killing 347 people and displacing 20,000 villagers.

The monumental eruption of the Krakatau volcano in 1883 triggered a period of global cooling.