Indonesia volcano catapults vast ash tower into sky

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,703-metre (5,587-foot) twin-peaked volcano on the tourist island of Flores, has erupted more than a dozen times this week, killing nine people after its initial burst on Monday. "The ash column was observed at approximately 9,000 metres above the summit. The ash column appeared grey with thick intensity," the country's volcanology agency said in a statement about the eruption that began at 04:47 local time (2047 GMT). There were no immediate reports of damage to nearby villages from Saturday's fresh eruption.