Indonesian Volcano Erupts Again, Spewing Towering Ash Cloud

Eruption Details

  • Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, located on Flores Island, Indonesia, began erupting again on Monday.

  • The volcano shot ash clouds up to 18 km (11 mi) into the sky — its highest eruption since November.

  • A second eruption occurred at 19:30 Monday, with ash and lava reaching 13 km high.

  • A third, less intense eruption happened early Tuesday morning at 05:53.

Impact and Warnings

  • Authorities placed the volcano on the highest alert level.

  • The exclusion zone was expanded to a 7 km radius.

  • Officials warned of potential lahar floods (volcanic mudflows) if heavy rain occurs.

Disruption

  • 24 flights to and from Bali were canceled on Monday due to ash clouds; some resumed on Tuesday.

  • Aviation authorities flagged a higher danger due to the height of the ash plume.

Evacuations and Local Conditions

  • Over 4,000 people have been evacuated so far.

  • Residents still in the area are facing shortages of water, food, and masks.

  • There are concerns about water contamination due to thick volcanic ash.

Eyewitness Reports

  • Videos show glowing lava and residents fleeing in cars and buses.

  • Local leaders are calling for focused emergency response efforts for those still affected.

Background

  • Indonesia lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

  • Lewotobi Laki-laki has erupted several times this year with no reported casualties so far.

  • However, a previous eruption in November killed at least 10 people.

  • The volcano is twinned with Mount Perempuan (“woman” in Indonesian), which is taller but calmer.

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