A powerful eruption from Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on Indonesia’s Flores Island has disrupted regional air traffic and prompted evacuations, as authorities raised the volcano’s alert level to its highest status on Tuesday.

The eruption occurred at 5:35 PM local time, sending a dense ash column over 11 kilometers into the sky. The Indonesian volcanology agency has imposed a 7-kilometer exclusion zone around the crater and advised residents to avoid all activity within the danger radius.

The ash cloud caused significant operational issues at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, where at least 37 flights had been canceled or delayed by late Wednesday. Affected airlines include Air India, Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Juneyao Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Australia, and several AirAsia domestic routes to Flores.

No casualties have been reported, but the eruption has left travelers stranded and local residents on high alert.

Seismic activity continues around the twin-peaked volcano, with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency urging residents in affected areas to evacuate to safer zones. Authorities have also warned of possible lahar floods—hazardous mudflows caused by rain mixing with volcanic debris—especially if weather conditions worsen.

Face masks have been distributed to shield against volcanic ash, and at least one village near the exclusion zone has already been evacuated. Ash rain has been confirmed in multiple areas outside the immediate danger zone.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, named after the Indonesian word for “man,” is known for its volatile behavior and forms part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Its neighboring peak, Mount Perempuan (“woman”), stands taller but has shown less activity in recent months.

The volcano’s last major eruption in November claimed nine lives and displaced thousands. A smaller eruption in May also triggered a maximum alert, underlining the persistent threat the volcano poses to nearby communities and air traffic.

Indonesian disaster response teams remain on standby as volcanic tremors continue to signal possible further eruptions. The public has been urged to follow official updates and comply with evacuation orders as necessary. (ILKHA)