Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted on Tuesday, sending a towering column of volcanic ash nearly 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) into the sky, causing serious flight disruptions across the region, especially on the popular tourist island of Bali.
The eruption, which began at 5:35 PM local time, blanketed the sky over Flores Island in southeast Indonesia and created a bright mushroom-shaped ash cloud that was visible up to 150 kilometers (93 miles) away. The country’s Geology Agency immediately issued the highest-level volcano alert, warning locals and tourists to avoid the danger zone.
✈️ Bali Flights Canceled and Airports Closed
The ash cloud caused major flight delays and cancellations. According to Denpasar International Airport, dozens of routes were halted or canceled due to volcanic activity. Flights affected included:
- Domestic flights to Jakarta and Lombok
- International flights to Australia, China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and New Zealand
The Fransiskus Xaverius Seda Airport in East Nusa Tenggara was closed until Thursday as a safety measure. Singapore’s Changi Airport reported cancellations from Jetstar, Scoot, and AirAsia.
🧳 Tourists Stuck and Making New Plans
Over 1,000 tourists traveling to Bali and Komodo National Park were affected, according to local travel agencies. Some were stranded and had to rebook their flights and extend hotel stays.
One tourist, Athirah Rosli, said her Jetstar flight to Singapore was canceled unexpectedly. “At first, I panicked, but then realized we were lucky to be safe. We rebooked, extended our hotel, and made the most of it,” she told CNN.
🌫️ Volcano Continues to Erupt
On Wednesday morning, the volcano erupted again, releasing another 1-kilometer (0.62-mile) cloud of ash. Authorities reported that 50 eruptions occurred in just two hours, a sharp increase from the usual 8 to 10 per day.
Emergency teams evacuated people from two nearby villages, and officials warned that heavy rain could trigger lava flows in rivers near the volcano. A danger zone of 8 kilometers (5 miles) remains in effect.
⚠️ History of Deadly Eruptions
Mount Lewotobi’s latest eruption follows similar events earlier this year:
- May 2025: Alert level raised due to strong volcanic activity
- March 2025: Flights canceled after ash disrupted air travel
- November 2024: Multiple eruptions killed nine people, injured dozens, and displaced thousands
Indonesia, home to over 270 million people, lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The country has more than 120 active volcanoes, making it one of the most seismically active places on Earth.
