The Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano on the Indonesian island of Flores has erupted for the second time this year, spewing a massive ash cloud that has significantly impacted air travel, particularly affecting flights to and from the popular tourist destination of Bali.
Multiple eruptions have shaken the mountain since Tuesday evening, leading authorities to raise the alert level to its highest. The ash cloud, reaching heights of up to ten kilometers, has forced the cancellation of dozens of flights.
The disruption to air travel is widespread, with flights from Bali to destinations including Australia, Malaysia, India, and China being canceled. Flights to and from Labuan Bajo International Airport on Flores have also been affected, although the airport remains operational.
Ashfall has been reported in surrounding areas, prompting the evacuation of at least one village and warnings for residents and tourists to stay outside a multi-kilometer exclusion zone around the crater. Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,584-meter-high volcano, is part of a twin-peaked complex and has been active since 2023. Indonesia, the world's largest island nation, is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a geologically active zone. The impact on Bali, a major tourism hub, highlights the significant consequences of volcanic activity on air travel in the region.