A powerful eruption from Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki in Indonesia has disrupted air travel to and from Bali, grounding dozens of flights after the volcano sent an ash plume more than six miles into the atmosphere.
The eruption occurred at 5:35 p.m. local time on Tuesday, according to Indonesia’s Geology Agency, with ash rising 11 kilometers (approximately 6.8 miles) above the island of Flores in south-central Indonesia. Authorities quickly raised the volcano alert to the highest level and warned tourists and locals to stay clear of the affected areas.
Striking images captured an orange mushroom-shaped ash cloud looming over nearby villages, including Talibura, with sightings of the plume reported as far as 150 kilometers (93 miles) away.
Flight disruptions were widespread. Denpasar International Airport in Bali confirmed the delays and cancellations were “due to volcano,” impacting both domestic and international routes. Flights to Jakarta, Lombok, Australia, China, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Singapore were among those affected.
Fransiskus Xaverius Seda Airport near the eruption site was fully closed until Thursday to prioritize passenger safety, AirNav Indonesia announced through an official statement on social media.
Airlines including Jetstar, Scoot, and AirAsia canceled multiple scheduled flights. Singapore’s Changi Airport listed several canceled services, while frustrated travelers scrambled to rebook and rearrange accommodation plans.
One such traveler, Athirah Rosli, 31, told CNN that her Jetstar flight from Bali to Singapore was canceled overnight. “My first reaction was annoyed and panicked, but I calmed down,” she said. Rosli and her husband rebooked flights and accommodation, choosing to see the disruption as “a blessing in disguise.”
The eruption follows a period of intensified volcanic activity at Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki. Officials recorded 50 volcanic events within a two-hour window a sharp increase from the typical average of eight to ten per day.
A fresh eruption was recorded early Wednesday morning, sending another ash cloud approximately one kilometer into the sky. Authorities confirmed the evacuation of residents from at least two nearby villages. A five-mile (8km) exclusion zone has been established, with warnings of potential lava flows in the event of heavy rainfall.
More than 1,000 tourists are estimated to be affected by the flight cancelations, particularly those traveling to Bali and Komodo National Park, a popular destination known for its Komodo dragons. A local tour operator said his agency alone had to reschedule hundreds of clients.
Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki last erupted in May and has a history of deadly activity. A major eruption in November 2024 killed nine people and displaced thousands. Located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” Indonesia is home to over 120 active volcanoes and frequently experiences seismic and volcanic events.
