Volcano Eruption Disrupts Bali Flights

At least 20 flights to and from Bali have been cancelled following a powerful volcanic eruption in eastern Indonesia.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, located on the island of Flores, erupted on Tuesday, releasing a towering ash cloud that reached an altitude of 10 kilometers, prompting authorities to raise the alert level to its highest.

Airlines including Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's Tigerair, and China’s Juneyao Airlines suspended flights due to volcanic activity. Affected routes included popular destinations across Australia and Southeast Asia. Domestic flights by AirAsia to Labuan Bajo in Flores were also disrupted.

Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency confirmed that volcanic ash had blanketed nearby villages, forcing the evacuation of at least one community on Tuesday night. Officials reported ongoing tremors in the region, signalling continued volcanic activity.

The country’s geological agency has advised residents and tourists to maintain a minimum distance of seven kilometres from the volcano's crater as a precaution.

So far, there have been no reports of injuries or property damage. However, memories remain fresh of the volcano’s last eruption in November, which killed nine people, displaced thousands, and led to the cancellation of dozens of international flights to Bali.

Indonesia, located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is home to over 100 active volcanoes and experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity.