Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted again on Wednesday in Indonesia’s Flores Timur district, sending thick columns of ash up to 10,000 meters (32,800 feet) into the sky and prompting widespread evacuations and regional air travel disruptions. The eruption, part of a series that began Tuesday evening, produced a towering mushroom-shaped ash cloud visible from nearly 150 kilometers (93 miles) away, reports AP.
In response, Indonesian authorities raised the volcano’s alert level to its highest on Tuesday and extended the exclusion zone to 8 kilometers (5 miles) around the crater. Ashfall was reported well beyond the danger zone, impacting several villages, including Boru, Hewa, and Watobuku. Residents of Nurabelen village were relocated to safer areas such as Konga and Nileknoheng.
Volcanic debris also forced the evacuation of staff from a monitoring post located just 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from the volcano. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.
The eruption severely affected air travel across Southeast Asia. Dozens of flights were canceled on Wednesday, particularly at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, where connections to Australia, Malaysia, India, and China were suspended. Labuan Bajo Airport on Flores Island also saw disruptions but remains operational.
Airlines including Jetstar and Air New Zealand canceled services, citing safety concerns due to the ash cloud. Flights to destinations such as Auckland, New Delhi, Singapore, and Shanghai Pudong were grounded.
Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, standing at 1,584 meters (5,197 feet), is part of a twin volcano system with Mount Lewotobi Perempuan. It has shown heightened activity in recent months. A previous eruption in November 2024 claimed nine lives and injured many others.
Indonesia, situated along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is one of the most volcanically active regions on Earth, with around 120 active volcanoes. Authorities continue to monitor Mount Lewotobi closely amid concerns of further eruptions.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
