Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki Erupts Again, Covering Indonesian Villages in Ash and Forcing Closures
- Victor Nwoko
- Jul 8
- 2 min read
Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted for a second consecutive day on Tuesday, blanketing villages in south-central Indonesia with thick volcanic ash and forcing thousands to shelter indoors. The dawn eruption spewed lava and a towering column of ash up to 4 kilometers (2.4 miles) into the air, following a pair of powerful blasts on Monday that sent volcanic material as high as 18 kilometers (11 miles) and 13 kilometers (8 miles), respectively.
Residents in East Flores and Sikka districts on Flores Island donned face masks and fled their homes as ash and gravel rained down. Videos captured panicked villagers running through gray haze and vehicles struggling to navigate ash-covered roads. The eruption has not resulted in any reported casualties, but officials say over 10,000 people across 10 villages have been impacted.
The volcano has remained at its highest alert level since June 18, when the exclusion zone was extended to a 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) radius. Authorities have distributed 50,000 masks and urged residents to limit outdoor activity, warning of potential lava flows triggered by heavy rainfall.
“The smell of sulfur and ash hung so thickly in the air that breathing was painful,” said Very Awales, a public information officer from Sikka district. Schools in affected areas—including Nawakote, Klantanio, Hokeng Jaya, Boru, Pululera, and Wulanggitang—have been closed since Monday to protect students from the hazardous conditions.
The Geology Agency reported avalanches of hot gas clouds, lava, and rocks traveling up to 5 kilometers (3 miles) down the slopes of the 1,584-meter (5,197-foot) volcano. Drone footage revealed lava filling the crater, signaling deep magma movement and triggering volcanic earthquakes. Rocks and thumb-sized gravel were ejected up to 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the crater.
Airports in Maumere and Larantuka remained closed Tuesday, while several flights to and from Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport were delayed or canceled. Bali airport operations continued with caution as monitoring showed no direct ash impact on its airspace.
This week’s eruption follows a deadly blast in November 2024, when Lewotobi Laki Laki killed nine people and injured dozens. Monday’s eruption is considered one of Indonesia’s most significant volcanic events since Mount Merapi’s 2010 eruption, which claimed 353 lives on Java island.
Indonesia, located along the volatile Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is home to 120 active volcanoes. Its frequent seismic activity poses ongoing challenges for the country’s 280 million residents.
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