Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted twice on Monday, sending massive columns of volcanic ash and debris soaring into the sky, disrupting flights and covering nearby villages in ash.
Authorities reported no casualties from the twin eruptions on Flores Island, where the volcano has been on the highest alert level since June 18. As activity intensified, officials expanded the exclusion zone around the 1,584-meter (5,197-foot) peak to a 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) radius.
The country’s Geology Agency recorded searing clouds of gas, rocks, and lava cascading nearly 5 kilometers (3 miles) down the volcano's slopes. Drone footage revealed lava filling the crater, indicating significant underground magma movement, which also triggered earthquakes.
The first eruption, which occurred shortly after 11 a.m. local time (0305 GMT), produced a towering ash plume reaching up to 18 kilometers (11 miles) — the highest since a deadly eruption in November 2024 that left nine people dead and dozens injured. The volcano had also erupted in March this year.
Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki Volcano Erupts, Alert Level Raised
"Such a large-scale eruption poses significant dangers, including risks to aviation," said Muhammad Wafid, head of the Geology Agency. He added that authorities are considering expanding the evacuation zone for residents and tourists.
A second eruption followed at around 7:30 p.m. (1100 GMT), sending lava and ash clouds up to 13 kilometers (8 miles) into the atmosphere, according to the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation.
At least 24 international flights connecting Bali with Australia, Singapore, and South Korea were cancelled, along with several domestic flights, officials at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport confirmed. Despite the disruptions, airport operations remained normal as volcanic ash had not yet entered Bali's airspace.
Ashfall from the eruptions blanketed nearby villages, darkening the sky for nearly half an hour. Residents were warned of possible lava floods triggered by heavy rain.
Images circulating online showed thick ash clouds forming mushroom-like plumes, while volcanic debris covered rooftops. Some villagers were seen fleeing the area in panic.
Experts believe the eruptions were fueled by a buildup of magma pressure within the crater, which initially reduced seismic signals but eventually triggered the powerful blasts.
Indonesia, part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire," is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, with 120 active volcanoes across the archipelago of over 280 million people. Mount Lewotobi's eruption is considered one of the most significant since Mount Merapi's deadly 2010 eruption, which killed 353 people on Java Island.