Flights to Bali have been disrupted following the eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, which erupted at 5:35pm local time on Tuesday.
The volcano unleashed towering columns of hot ash, reaching heights of over 10 000 metres (approximately 32 800 feet), and sent ash clouds visible from 150 kilometres away.
This latest eruption prompted officials to issue the highest possible volcano alert, reflecting fears for both residents living in proximity and holidaymakers looking to visit Bali.
The volcanic activity has resulted in significant flight cancellations, with multiple airlines suspending operations.
Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Air New Zealand confirmed their flights departing from Bali International Airport were cancelled. Other international carriers, including Air India, Singapore’s TigerAir, and China’s Juneyao Airlines, followed suit, citing ‘due to volcano’ as the reason for halting their services.
In response to the eruption, Indonesia’s Geology Agency has expanded the danger zone surrounding Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki to an imposing 8 kilometres from the crater, as reported by The Independent.
Local authorities are urging residents, particularly those living in two nearby villages, to remain vigilant as heavy rainfall could potentially trigger dangerous lava flows. As a precautionary measure, several families have been evacuated from their homes, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki is notorious for its volatility; a similar eruption in November last year tragically resulted in nine fatalities and numerous injuries.
The volcano also exhibited eruptive behaviour as recently as May, illustrating the ongoing threat posed by one of Indonesia’s most active geological features.
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Picture: @volcaholic1 / X
