mount-lewotobi-erupts-ash-soars-18km-over-indonesian-skies

Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, one of Indonesia’s most volatile volcanoes, erupted violently on Monday, sending a towering ash column 18 kilometres into the sky and casting a grey veil over villages in East Flores.

 

The Indonesian Geology Agency confirmed that the eruption was accompanied by a cascade of scalding gas clouds that barrelled down the volcano’s slopes, though no casualties were reported at the time of filing.

 

Authorities had already escalated the alert status to its highest level following a series of eruptions since June 18. The exclusion zone around the volcano was expanded to a 7-kilometre radius in anticipation of further activity.

 

The 1,584-metre peak, which forms a twin volcano system with Mount Lewotobi Perempuan, has now erupted three times in less than a year. Its November 2024 eruption claimed nine lives and injured dozens, while a similar episode in March heightened fears across the archipelago.

 

Pagi ini, Senin (07/07) pukul 11:05 WITA, G. Lewotobi Laki-laki kembali erupsi dengan ketinggian abu vulkanik mencapai 18.000 m! Ada potensi mengganggu penerbangan seperti terlihat di gambar.
Masyarakat patuhi KRB 6km umum dan 7 km utara - barat tidak boleh ada aktifitas!
070725 pic.twitter.com/5ESx1Y7wdz

— Abdul Muhari (@abdulmuhari) July 7, 2025

Also read: Kilauea eruption sends lava fountains 1,000 feet over Hawaii

 

Located on the eastern tip of Flores Island, Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki is among 120 active volcanoes dotting Indonesia, which lies precariously along the Pacific’s “Ring of Fire”, a seismic belt notorious for tectonic activity, including frequent earthquakes and volcanic events.

 

The eruption on Monday coated nearby villages in ash, although evacuations were not immediately ordered. The volcano monitoring agency continues to assess the risk of further eruptions, and residents have been urged to remain alert and adhere to exclusion protocols.

 

Indonesia, home to over 270 million people, remains one of the most geologically restless nations on Earth. Experts warn that continued activity at Lewotobi could lead to broader environmental and humanitarian impacts if explosive patterns persist.

 

While Monday’s blast did not match the lethality of last year’s tragedy, the frequency and intensity of recent eruptions have reignited concerns over disaster preparedness in the remote Flores Timur region.

Authorities have reiterated that emergency teams remain on standby as they monitor the situation closely.