Dozens of international and domestic flights have been cancelled or delayed after Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted, sending a massive plume of volcanic ash more than 11 kilometres into the atmosphere on Tuesday.
Picture/EPA/BBC News
The eruption occurred at 17:35 local time (10:35 BST), according to the Indonesian volcanology agency, prompting immediate safety precautions and disruption to air travel.
Highest alert level issued
Officials have raised the volcano’s alert status to its highest level. Residents are being urged to stay at least 7 kilometres away from the crater, according to reports by BBC News.
There have not been any reports of casualties, but the threat remains significant due to continuing volcanic tremors.
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Flight cancellations affect international and domestic travel
Airlines impacted include Air India, Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Juneyao Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Virgin Australia, all of which cancelled flights to and from Bali, which lies to the west of Flores.
Data from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali showed that over 37 flights were cancelled by late Wednesday. Several domestic AirAsia flights scheduled for Flores were also grounded.
Volcanic hazards and community impact
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Muhammad Wafid, head of Indonesia’s geology agency, warned of the risk of lahars — dangerous mudflows consisting of volcanic debris — if heavy rainfall combines with ash deposits.
Residents in affected areas have been advised to wear face masks to protect against falling ash. According to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, at least one village has been evacuated, with ashfall reported in several others outside the exclusion zone.
A spokesperson for the agency urged, “Residents around the volcano [should] evacuate to safe locations,” noting that tremors continue to indicate ongoing volcanic activity.
History of unrest at Lewotobi
This is not the first time Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki has erupted in recent months. In November, multiple eruptions from the volcano killed nine people and displaced thousands.
Its most recent eruption before this week was in May, during which the alert level was also raised to the most severe.
The twin-peaked volcano comprises two cones: Laki-Laki, meaning “man,” and Perempuan, meaning “woman,” the latter being taller but less active.
Indonesia is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a zone known for frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes caused by shifting tectonic plates. This geographic reality continues to pose risks for the country’s densely populated islands and heavily trafficked air routes.
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