Indonesian volcano erupts, sending 8km ash cloud; some flights canceled

A powerful eruption from Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano sent a huge cloud of ash over 8 kilometers (5 miles) into the sky. The eruption disrupted flights and led officials to issue the highest level of emergency warnings for both locals and tourists.

Authorities Warn People to Stay Away

Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation advised residents and visitors to stay at least 7-8 kilometers (4.4-5 miles) away from the volcano, especially in the southwest and northeast areas. The agency described the ash cloud as “grey to black” and “very thick.” The eruption began late Thursday night at 10:56 PM local time (14:56 GMT).

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Possible Dangers After the Eruption

So far, there have been no reports of damage in nearby villages. However, officials warned that heavy rain could mix with volcanic ash, causing dangerous mudflows. Because of the long duration of the eruption, Indonesia’s geological agency raised the volcano’s alert level to the highest on its four-tier scale.

Flight Disruptions in Indonesia and Australia

The thick volcanic ash caused flight cancellations. Jetstar, a low-cost airline under Australia’s Qantas Airways, canceled flights from Australia to Bali on Friday morning. The airline expected flights to resume later in the day.

Despite the eruption, Bali’s airport remained open, although a spokesperson confirmed that seven international flights were canceled and several domestic routes were delayed.

Tsunami Warning Issued but No Threat

After the eruption, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning. However, no tsunami occurred.

Previous Deadly Eruption

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki last erupted in November, killing at least 10 people and forcing thousands to leave their homes.