MULTIPLE flights to Bali have been cancelled and an airport in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province closed after Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted, sending plumes of ash high into the atmosphere, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The volcano, situated on the island of Flores, erupted on Tuesday, releasing an ash column 11 kilometres (6.84 miles) into the sky, prompting Indonesia’s volcanology agency to raise the alert to its highest level.
It erupted again early Wednesday, this time producing an ash cloud reaching approximately one kilometre in height, the agency said in a statement.
Several international flights from India, Singapore and Australia bound for Bali were cancelled as a precaution, according to information published on the Bali international airport website.
The eruption also forced the temporary closure of Fransiskus Xaverius Seda Airport in Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara, from Wednesday to Thursday “to ensure the safety of the passengers,” airport operator AirNav Indonesia announced via Instagram.
Local authorities have evacuated dozens of residents from two nearby villages. “Streets in the two villages were filled with thick ash, gravel, and sand,” said Avi Hallan from the regional disaster mitigation agency, adding that no injuries or fatalities had been reported.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki last erupted in May. The volcano is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for its intense seismic and volcanic activity due to the movement of multiple tectonic plates. - June 18, 2025
