Volcanic eruption disrupts flights to Bali, forces airport closure in eastern Indonesia

Flights to Indonesia’s popular resort island of Bali faced widespread disruption on Wednesday after Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted, spewing ash high into the atmosphere and prompting emergency measures in surrounding regions.

The volcano, located in East Nusa Tenggara province, erupted on Tuesday, sending an ash plume as high as 11 kilometers (6.84 miles) into the sky. Indonesia’s volcanology agency responded by raising the alert level to the highest category. A second eruption occurred early Wednesday, releasing a 1-kilometre-high ash cloud, the agency confirmed.

As a precaution, the Fransiskus Xaverius Seda Airport in Maumere was closed from Wednesday until Thursday, according to air navigation service provider AirNav Indonesia. The closure is aimed at ensuring the safety of passengers and aviation operations.

Meanwhile, several international flights to Bali—originating from India, Singapore, and Australia—were cancelled, as listed on the Ngurah Rai International Airport website in Bali.

Local disaster authorities also began evacuating dozens of residents from two villages located near the volcano. According to Avi Hallan, an official with the local disaster mitigation agency, roads in the affected villages were “filled with thick ash, gravel, and sand.” No casualties have been reported.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, which also erupted last month, is part of Indonesia’s vast chain of active volcanoes. The country lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly seismically active zone where multiple tectonic plates converge, making it prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and have advised residents and tourists to avoid areas within a designated exclusion zone around the volcano.

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