Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki Unleashes Massive Eruption, Disrupting Flights

Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano erupted yesterday, July 7, 2025, sending a colossal column of volcanic ash and materials an astonishing 18 kilometers (11 miles) into the sky. The powerful eruption, the largest since November 2024, has blanketed nearby villages in ash and led to significant flight disruptions across the region.

The volcano, located in East Flores, has been at the highest alert level since last month, with an exclusion zone already expanded to a 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) radius. While no casualties have been immediately reported, the eruption caused avalanches of searing gas clouds, rocks, and lava to travel up to 5 kilometers (3 miles) down its slopes. Observations indicate lava filling the crater, signaling deep magma movement.

Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, spokesperson for Bali’s Ngurah Rai international airport, confirmed that by Monday afternoon, at least 24 flights between Bali and destinations including Australia, Singapore, and South Korea were cancelled or severely delayed. Domestic routes were also affected, with cancellations from El Tari airport in Kupang. Airlines like Virgin Australia and Qantas have cited safety as their top priority, closely monitoring the ash cloud, though Bali’s airspace was not directly impacted as of yesterday afternoon.

Officials from Indonesia’s Geology Agency are reevaluating the danger zone, considering its potential enlargement. The agency chief, Muhammad Wafid, highlighted the higher potential for danger, including aviation impacts, from an eruption of this magnitude. Residents in affected areas have been warned about heavy rainfall, which could trigger dangerous lava flows in rivers originating from the volcano. This latest activity is attributed to an accumulation of hidden energy from magma blockage, leading to the explosive event. Indonesia, part of the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire,’ is home to 120 active volcanoes and frequently experiences seismic activity.

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