Quick summary: Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki has erupted several times in eastern Indonesia, spewing towering columns of volcanic material and forcing the immediate closure of a local airport due to hazardous ash dispersion. The national volcanology agency has enforced a strict five kilometre exclusion zone and warned surrounding communities to prepare for rapid evacuations and dangerous lahars caused by heavy rainfall mixing with volcanic debris. This natural disaster underscores a critical need for robust public policy regarding emergency logistics, while healthcare practices must quickly adapt to manage the severe respiratory risks and psychological distress that displacement inflicts on vulnerable populations.
A highly active volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted several times on Friday (5th June), spewing towering ash columns into the sky and forcing a local airport to close, authorities said.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on Flores Island erupted at 11:15am, sending volcanic material 2.5km into the air, the national volcanology agency said in a statement. It came after several other eruptions earlier on Friday. The volcano is under Indonesia’s second-highest alert level, with a 5km exclusion zone in force around its crater.
Authorities suspended operations at Fransiskus Xaverius Seda Airport in the town of Maumere, about 60km west of Lewotobi Laki-Laki, affecting five domestic flights. Airport head Partahian Panjaitan told AFP of the suspension. Airlines are advising passengers to check schedules, as ash dispersion can affect visibility and engine performance even at a distance.
The volcanology agency warned residents near rivers to remain alert for lahars, hazardous floods of volcanic material that can occur when heavy rain mixes with volcanic debris, posing a significant secondary hazard in surrounding river valleys. Local disaster management teams have urged villagers to heed warnings and prepare for potential evacuation if conditions worsen.
No injuries have been reported from Friday’s eruptions.
Laki-Laki means “man” in Indonesian. The 1,584m volcano is twinned with a calmer 1,703m peak named Perempuan, the Indonesian word for “woman”.Last July, Lewotobi Laki-Laki spewed an 18km column of ash, forcing the cancellation of 24 flights at Bali’s international airport. A major eruption in November 2024 also led to evacuations and significant damage in surrounding villages.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is home to more than 120 active volcanoes, making the vast archipelago particularly prone to earthquakes and eruptions. Officials from the national volcanology agency continue to provide regular updates using seismic data and visual observations, with the 5km exclusion zone strictly enforced and additional alerts in place for lahar-prone areas during the rainy season.
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