Flights cancelled and villages evacuated after volcanic eruption spews 11km tower of ash into air
18 June 2025, 08:25 | Updated: 18 June 2025, 08:43
A volcanic eruption in Indonesia has forced the evacuation of villages and the cancellation of flights, including to and from the popular tourist hotspot of Bali.
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Several eruptions from the highly-active Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki on the island of Flores sent ash and smoke plumes up to 5,000 metres (16,400ft) into the sky on Tuesday evening into Wednesday afternoon.
An eruption on Tuesday afternoon sent thick, grey clouds about 32,800ft into the sky that expanded into a mushroom-shaped ash cloud visible up to around 100 miles away.
The eruption alert was raised on Tuesday to the highest level and the danger zone where people are recommended to leave was expanded to five miles from the crater.
Fortunately, no casualties have yet been reported.
So far, Air India, Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Juneyao Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia were among those that have cancelled flights to and from Bali.
The twin-peaked volcano erupted multiple times back in November, killing nine and forcing thousands to flee.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency said that at least one village had been evacuated, and ash rain was reported in several others outside the exclusion zone.
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation raised the volcano's status to the highest level four after record seismic activity.
The danger zone was expanded to 8km from the crater.
Residents have been urged to wear face masks to protect themselves from volcanic ash.
Indonesia's volcanology agency was forced to raise the alert level to the highest.
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Residents were advised to be aware of potential lahar floods in rivers originating from the volcano's peak, particularly in areas such as:
- Dulipali
- Padang Pasir
- Nobo
- Nurabelen
- Klatanlo
- Hokeng Jaya
- Boru
- Nawakote
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