Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a volcano located on the eastern Indonesian island of Flores, erupted violently Monday, sending a colossal ash cloud approximately 18 kilometers (11 miles) into the sky. According to Indonesia's volcanology agency, the eruption occurred at 11:05 a.m. local time (0305 GMT), spewing ash that blanketed nearby villages including Boru Village and Wulanggitang Subdistrict. The ash column was observed leaning towards the north, northeast, and northwest, with gray to black clouds of thick intensity.
International flights between Australia and Bali were canceled or delayed, reported ABC News.
The eruption was accompanied by loud booming sounds, with thunderous noises heard as far away as Sikka Regency and its surroundings. "The atmosphere is dark because of the ash and sand," said Paul Kabelen, a resident of Hokeng Jaya Village, according to Liputan 6. He added that multiple villages, including Boru, Dulipali, Klatanlo, Padang Pasir, Nobo, Nurabelen, and Hokeng Jaya, were affected by the ash and sand rain.
Authorities raised the alert level for Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki to Alert Level IV (Awas), the highest level, due to increased volcanic activity. The exclusion zone around the volcano has been expanded to a radius of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles), prohibiting community activities within 6 kilometers and establishing a no-fly zone as a precaution. Residents and visitors were urged to avoid the area. "The community should remain calm and follow the local government's instructions and not believe in issues that are unclear in their sources," advised Fajaruddin M Balido, an officer at the Gunung Lewotobi Laki-Laki Observation Post.
Pyroclastic flows—fast-moving currents of hot gas and volcanic matter—moved about five kilometers north and northeast of the volcano's crater, affecting areas such as Boru Market in Wulanggitang District. Hot clouds from the eruption reached as far as 5 kilometers to the north and northeast, as reported by News China. The Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation noted that eruptions that began on June 18 continue at the volcano, with the alert status raised to the highest level.
Experts warned of possible lahars—volcanic mudflows that can be extremely fast and dangerous, particularly for communities near rivers, especially if heavy rain occurs. Residents living around Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki are advised to be vigilant for the potential of rain-induced lava floods in river areas originating from the crater during periods of heavy rainfall. "Residents affected by ash rain are advised to use masks or coverings for the nose and mouth to protect the respiratory tract," said Muhammad Wafid, Head of the Geological Agency, as reported by Tempo.
Despite the magnitude of the eruption, there were no immediate reports of casualties or injuries. Reuters reported that it was unclear whether air traffic was affected, and authorities could not immediately determine whether there were any evacuations or impacts on the surroundings. The eruption's ash plume was clearly visible from the city of Maumere, attracting residents' attention and creating a tense atmosphere in several surrounding areas.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki is one of Indonesia's approximately 120 active volcanoes and is part of a twin-peaked volcanic system alongside Mount Lewotobi Perempuan. The summits of the two volcanoes are about two kilometers apart, with Lewotobi Laki-Laki being the more active of the two. The name Laki-Laki means "man" in Indonesian.
Indonesia, an archipelago of 270 million people, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin. This area is known for its high seismic activity atop multiple tectonic plates.
The eruption came after previous activity from Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki. In November 2024, the volcano erupted several times, causing nine deaths and forcing thousands of people to evacuate. The eruptions also led to the cancellation of scores of international flights to Bali. While no flight cancellations have been reported immediately following the recent eruption, authorities are closely monitoring the situation.
Monitoring of the volcano continues, with officials using seismic data and visual observations to assess activity levels. "The activity level of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki is very high with the occurrence of explosive eruptions and continuous tremor earthquakes," stated Wafid, Head of the Geological Agency.
Written with the help of a news-analysis system.