Massive Eruption at Mount Lewotobi Sends Ash 10 Kilometres Into the Sky

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, located on Indonesia’s Flores Island, erupted late Tuesday and again early Wednesday at around 1:35 a.m. local time (1735 GMT), propelling a dense column of volcanic ash nearly 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) above its 1,584-metre summit, according to the country’s National Volcanology Agency.

Although no injuries or property damage have been reported, authorities have urged both residents and tourists to stay clear of the danger zone, warning that evacuations may be necessary if activity intensifies.

Muhammad Wafid, head of Indonesia’s Geology Agency, confirmed that the volcano’s alert status was raised to its highest level late Tuesday following a surge in deep volcanic tremors, which often signal the approach of a major eruption.

Wafid cautioned that the massive ash plume could potentially disrupt air travel, depending on wind direction and spread. In response, the local airport in Maumere, approximately 60 kilometres (37 miles) west of the volcano, halted operations as a safety measure, according to an official post on Instagram.

Residents living near riverbanks were also warned to watch for lahar flows — dangerous floods of volcanic debris — especially if heavy rainfall occurs.

This is not the first major eruption from Mount Lewotobi this year. Back in July, the volcano sent ash soaring 18 kilometres (11 miles) high, leading to the cancellation of 24 flights at Bali’s international airport.

Indonesia, an archipelago that lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent volcanic and seismic activity, making it one of the world’s most volcanically active regions.