On July 7, the Indonesian volcano Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted twice, spewing out ash high into the sky. As a result, several flights from across Asia to the island of Bali were cancelled.
Indonesia’s Geology Agency reported that the first eruption occurred after 11:00 a.m. local time (0305 GMT), shooting a column of volcanic ash up to 18 kilometers (11 miles) into the air. From the blast rocks and lava flowed up to five kilometers (three miles) down the slopes.
According to Muhammad Wafid, chief of the Geology Agency, this was Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki’s highest eruption since a major one in November 2024, which killed nine people.
Another smaller eruption happened in March. It has also been the highest alert level raised since an earlier eruption on June 18, with the exclusion zone now twice the size encompassing a radius of around seven kilometers (4.3 miles) wide.
Warnings for possible lahar floods — where mud and debris flowed down — have been made in case of heavy rains.
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“An eruption of that size certainly carries a higher potential for danger, including its impact on aviation,” Wafid told The Associated Press (AP). “We shall evaluate to enlarge its danger zone that must be cleared of villagers and tourists activities.”
The falling ash covered several villages, and shielded sunlight for about half an hour, Hadi Wijaya, head of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation, said in a statement. Media showed the ash descending upon villages, sending many into a state of panic.
Afterwards, a second eruption occurred right after 7:30 p.m. (1100 GMT), with ash flying up to 13 kilometers (eight miles) into the sky, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation reported.
Avelina Manggota Hallan, an official at the local disaster mitigation agency, said that there have been no reported casualties or cases of destruction caused by the eruption. According to the local disaster management agency, more than four thousand people were evacuated from the area. Those who remain are having issues with shortages of food, water and face masks, local authorities reported.
“Water is still available, but there’s concern about its cleanliness and whether it has been contaminated, since our entire area was blanketed in thick volcanic ash during [Monday’s eruptions],” Paulus Sony Sang Tukan, leader of the Pululera village, said.
Due to Indonesia’s position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” the country has seen multiple seismic activities atop the tectonic planets, and has more than 120 active volcanoes.
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Flights cancelled
In response to the first eruption, around 24 flights to and from the island of Bali were cancelled on Monday afternoon. Tourists were warned to stay away from a six-kilometer radius around the volcano and the lava flows.
Twenty-two of the flights were international ones, between Bali and countries including Australia, South Korea, and Singapore, Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, an official at Bali’s airport, said. The other two cancelled flights were domestic ones via AirAsia from Bali to Labuan Bajo, another vacation spot in East Nusa Tenggara.
Bali services provided by Virgin Australia were also cancelled as the airline kept a close watch on the volcanic activity, a spokesperson said.
Another Australian airline — Qantas — delayed two of its flights and low-cost carrier, JetStar, also said that its own flights between Bali and Australia were cancelled.
The Indonesian government also closed Fransiskus Xaverius Seda airport in Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara province, until Tuesday, the airport’s operator said online.
