Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, an active stratovolcano in Indonesia, erupted on 20 March 2025, sending ash clouds soaring up to 8,200 feet (2,500m) above its peak.
The significant eruption occurred Thursday night in East Nusa Tenggara province, following numerous smaller eruptions that began on 13 March.
The eruption lasted approximately 11 minutes and nine seconds, beginning at 10:56 PM local time, with the ash cloud described as grey to black with notable thickness.
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In response, authorities raised the volcano’s alert level from Level III (Alert) to Level IV (Awas), the highest warning status.
Flight Disruptions
The volcanic ash cloud has significantly impacted air travel to and from Bali, despite the popular tourist destination being situated more than 1,000km west of the volcano.
As of Friday morning, at least seven international flights from Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport have been cancelled.
Six of these were Jetstar flights bound for Australia, and one was an Air Asia flight to Kuala Lumpur, according to airport spokesperson Andadina Dyah.
Jetstar, the low-cost subsidiary of Qantas Airways, announced the cancellations on Friday, stating that affected passengers have been informed directly and offered options including rebooking on the next available flights.
The airline indicated that services were anticipated to resume later in the afternoon.
Virgin Australia also reported expected delays for two of its Friday flights: VA45 from Brisbane to Denpasar and VA91 from Melbourne to Denpasar.
Volcanic Activity and Safety Measures
Indonesian authorities have imposed an exclusion zone between 7 and 8km around the volcano. The Volcanological Survey of Indonesia (PVMBG) has warned about the potential for lava flows and reported that smaller eruptions occurred early on Friday.
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One person was reportedly injured during evacuation efforts, although specific details regarding the scale of evacuations were not immediately available. The geological agency has cautioned residents about the potential for volcanic mudflows due to heavy rainfall.
This is not the first time Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki has caused disruption.
In November 2024, the volcano erupted multiple times, killing at least nine people and forcing thousands to evacuate. Indonesian officials had previously indicated plans to permanently relocate those affected by the volcano’s activity.
Indonesia, situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, is home to nearly 130 active volcanoes and experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to the interaction of various tectonic plates.
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