Indonesia Issues Highest Alert After Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki Eruption Disrupts Flights

Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano on Flores island erupted on June 17, 2025, sending an ash column over 6.8 miles (11 kilometers) into the sky and prompting the highest alert level from authorities. Residents within a 7-kilometer exclusion zone were evacuated, and people nearby were urged to wear face masks due to ash fall and warned of potential lahar floods if heavy rains occur. The eruption caused widespread travel disruption, grounding flights regionally and internationally, including at Bali's Denpasar International Airport, with multiple airlines such as Jetstar, AirAsia, and Singapore Airlines cancelling flights. Although no casualties were reported from this eruption, the volcano has been increasingly active since late 2023, with a deadly eruption in November 2024 that killed nine people and displaced thousands. Authorities continue to monitor tremors around the volcano, calling for residents to evacuate to safe locations amid ongoing volcanic activity. The volcano, part of a twin peak system, is located in a popular tourist region known for its Komodo dragons and marine life, amplifying the impact of the travel disruptions.