Volcano destroys Catholic monastery in Indonesia, killing nun

CNA Staff November 4, 2024 / 4:20 p.m

A volcanic eruption destroyed a monastery in Indonesia on Sunday, killing at least 10 people, including a Catholic sister.

Just minutes before midnight on Sunday, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on the island of Flores erupted, spewing 6,500 feet of ash, destroying surrounding villages and prompting residents to evacuate. According to a report by Asia News, locals received no alarms or warnings about the eruption.

According to a report by the Union of Catholic Asian News, Sister Nikolin Padjo, head of a local monastery in Boru, Wulanggitang, died in the eruption. Padjo was a Missionary Servant of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) and lived at the Hokeng Sisters Monastery. Another sister was reportedly missing as the sisters fled amid the volcanic ash, according to the Associated Press.

The San Domingo Minor Seminary in Hokeng, less than four miles from the crater in Wulanggitang district, was also damaged and at least 14 people living at the seminary were injured. According to Asia News, an entire family was also among the victims of the volcano.

About 70% of Flores' 2 million residents are Catholic. There are more than 2,700 Catholic churches on the island. Flores is home to St. Peter Major Seminary, considered the largest Catholic seminary in the world with the highest enrollment. Indonesia has about 8.3 million Catholics, making up 3% of the country's population.

According to the National Disaster Management Agency, nine bodies have been identified and one victim remains undiscovered amid the rubble. The local search and rescue team is collecting data on the number of residents being evacuated. The volcano damaged homes within about four miles of the mountain while ash fell in the area.

The local emergency team is concerned about possible lava floods. Similar floods caused many deaths after a volcanic eruption in Indonesia in May. Indonesia has been plagued by volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a path along the Pacific Ocean with active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters.

The East Flores Regency government has placed the area under emergency status until Dec. 31. The outbreak affected at least 10,000 people in six villages in Wulanggitang district and four in Ile Bura district, according to the Associated Press.

Indonesia has a population of approximately 280 million people and consists of more than 17,000 islands. There are a total of 120 active volcanoes in the country. According to Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mount Lewotobi has erupted dozens of times in recent weeks and 43 times since the end of October. According to Muhammad Wafid, head of the Geological Survey, the ministry raised the alert level from Level III to Level IV on Sunday.

“Based on the results of visual and instrumental monitoring, there is a significant increase in volcanic activity in G. Male Lewotobi,” he said in a Nov. 4 news release. Wafid also warned the public of possible floods of lava and rain.

Catholic groups such as the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission of the Society of Divine Word and Caritas Indonesia are reportedly working to help victims on the island. Caritas Indonesia works with local Caritas groups Caritas Larantuka and Caritas Maumere to distribute relief supplies and assess needs.