Tourists stranded at Bali airport due to volcano eruption

Tourists in Bali were left stranded at Denpasar International Airport on March 21, 2025, after the eruption of Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano caused flight cancellations and significant travel disruptions.

Tourists in Bali faced travel disruptions on March 21, 2025, after the eruption of Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano, located in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province. The eruption, which occurred the previous night, sent ash clouds more than 8 kilometers (5 miles) high, grounding flights for safety reasons and stranding several travelers at Denpasar International Airport.

Among the stranded tourists were Australians Luke Mitterer and Lucia Uriarte, who were hoping to return home. Mitterer, 24, expressed frustration over his canceled flight, saying, “It’s kind of made my life hard... not too sure, we work with what we've got, I guess." Uriarte, 25, explained her predicament, stating that her flight was also canceled and that, despite the uncertainty of finding a new one, she and her group had no choice but to wait for an alternative flight.

As a result of the eruption, multiple flights in and out of Bali were disrupted. Jetstar confirmed that several flights were delayed or grounded but resumed operations later in the evening as conditions improved. The eruption follows a series of smaller eruptions from Lewotobi Laki Laki since March 13, with a significant eruption last November that tragically killed nine people and forced the evacuation of thousands.

Indonesia, situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," is home to nearly 130 active volcanoes, making it highly susceptible to volcanic activity. Although the airport resumed limited operations, many travelers remain stranded, uncertain of when they will be able to board a flight back to their homes.

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