The Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano on the Indonesian tourist island of Flores erupted late Thursday night, forcing widespread chaos. The eruption was a short one — only 11 minutes and nine seconds long. It sent a massive grey to black ash plume into the atmosphere, cancelling and delaying flights, and forcing over 130,000 residents to evacuate.
Then, shortly after 11 PM last night, the volcanic activity suddenly escalated. In reaction, Indonesia’s geological agency raised the alert status of Lewotobi Laki-Laki to the highest level. This 1703-meter twin-peaked volcano, with gentler Lewotobi Ibu at right, has a fierce eruption record. In November alone, these eruptions tragically took nine human lives.
That dramatic eruption spurred a rapid response. In response to this heightened threat, authorities promptly set up an exclusion zone that extends 7 to 8 kilometers surrounding the volcano. While taken as a precautionary measure, the precaution is needed to help keep the public safe as the region continues to deal with the volatile volcanic threat.
In reaction to the eruption, over 2500 flights were canceled or diverted. Indonesia’s volcanology agency confirmed the intensity of the ash column, while Andadina Dyah, spokesperson for Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport, reported significant impact on flight schedules.
“Seven international flights had been cancelled, six of them are Jetstar flights bound to Australia and one Air Asia flight to Kuala Lumpur,” said Andadina Dyah, Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport spokesperson.
Despite these disruptions, the main airport in Maumere on Flores was not affected by the ash fallout. So too dozens of international flights bound for Bali were cancelled as a precautionary measure.
The impact of the volcanic eruption created extreme fear for the local population. Thousands were forced to flee their homes in search of safety. Federal and local authorities are continuing to actively watch the situation and have called on residents to stay observant and follow public safety instructions.