On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, Mount Lewotobi Laki‑Laki—a twin-peaked volcano on Flores Island, eastern Indonesia—erupted with explosive force, projecting an ash plume approximately 10 kilometers (32,800 feet) into the sky.
The colossal eruption prompted Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) to immediately raise the alert level to its maximum (Level 4) and extend exclusion zones to an 8-kilometer radius around the crater. Authorities evacuated residents from nearby villages including Boru, Hewa, Watobuku, and Nurabelen, relocating them to safer sites such as Konga and Nileknoheng.
While no fatalities have been officially confirmed, ash and volcanic debris—ranging from fine soot to gravel—fell across multiple settlements, and officials are cautious about the risk of mudflows should ash accumulate amid heavy rain.
The eruption’s vast ash cloud swiftly disrupted aviation. Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport, located some 500 kilometers from the volcano, remained operational but faced serious airspace concerns as volcanic ash drifted northward. As a result, dozens of flights—to and from Bali—were either canceled or postponed, grounding thousands of travelers. Major carriers affected included Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Juneyao Airlines, AirAsia, Batik Air, Wings Air, and TigerAir Singapore.
One notable incident saw Air India flight AI2145 en route from Delhi to Bali forced to turn back and land safely in Delhi after encountering volcanic ash in its flight path. All passengers disembarked without injury, with the airline offering hotel accommodations, refunds, and rebooking options. Regional airport closures also occurred: Flores Island’s airports at Maumere, Bajawa, and Ende shut down temporarily and were expected to reopen by Thursday morning.
Local authorities emphasized that safety remained the foremost priority. BNPB cautioned that ashfall might threaten engine reliability on aircraft, and the aviation authority stressed that cancellations, rerouting, and full passenger refunds were being processed in accordance with procedures. Airlines reiterated that flights would only resume under improved conditions: Jetstar anticipated a clearing of ash by late Wednesday, and carriers such as Qantas, AirAsia, Virgin Australia, and Singapore’s Scoot signaled that services may recommence once it was deemed safe.
Indonesia, situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, hosts around 120 active volcanoes, making such eruptions relatively frequent—though this one ranks among the most significant so far in 2025. The volcano’s recent eruptive history includes a deadly blast in November 2024, which claimed nine lives, and another in March 2025. Reflecting on the mounting threats, authorities have been vigilant in expanding no‑go zones and issuing protective measures, yet the eruption’s intensity—evidenced by mushroom-shaped ash columns visible up to 150 km away—took many by surprise .
This ongoing crisis underscores the delicate balance between Indonesia’s thriving tourism economy—heavily reliant on Bali—and the volatility of its natural environment. With tourism now disrupted and thousands of visitors facing abrupt changes, the situation remains fluid. Airport directors, meanwhile, urge travelers to stay informed through airline notifications, to seek refunds or rebook flights, and to exercise patience as volcanic conditions evolve.
As flights have been grounded and lives temporarily displaced, all eyes are on how long volcanic ash remains aloft and when operations can safely resume. Both civil aviation authorities and disaster management teams are closely monitoring seismic activity, plume behavior, and weather patterns, poised to update safety zones and passenger advisories. The dual task at hand—resuming travel while preserving safety—illustrates the profound impact of such a dramatic volcanic event.
