Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted in the early hours of Wednesday, October 15, sending a massive column of volcanic ash up to 10 kilometres into the sky and forcing authorities to raise the alert level to its highest stage.
The eruption, which lasted around nine minutes, took place at 1:35 a.m. local time in East Nusa Tenggara province, according to a statement from the country’s Geological Agency. Officials said the volcano had also erupted earlier in the night, spewing ash about nine kilometres high.
The volcanology agency said activity at Mount Lewotobi had increased sharply since the beginning of the week. “Significant rising of the volcano’s activities” was recorded from Monday, October 13, leading the agency to raise the alert status to Level IV late on Tuesday, October 14, its head, Muhammad Wafid, confirmed.
He also warned residents to stay alert for secondary hazards. “People living near the volcano should be aware of the potential volcanic mudflow if heavy rain occurs,” Wafid said, advising that people “should clear a six- to seven-kilometre area around the site”.
The renewed eruption follows a pattern of frequent activity at Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki. The volcano, which stands near its twin peak Lewotobi Perempuan, last erupted in August and had also shown strong activity in July, leading to temporary disruptions of flights to and from Bali.
Officials said the latest eruption prompted the evacuation of several dozen residents from nearby villages. Avelina Manggota Hallan from the local disaster mitigation agency said most of those living closest to the mountain had already left. She added that many had not returned since the deadly eruption in November 2024, which killed 10 people and damaged thousands of homes.
The impact of the latest eruption also extended to air travel. The government ordered the temporary closure of Fransiskus Xaverius Seda Airport in Maumere, located in East Nusa Tenggara province.
In a statement posted on social media, the airport operator announced that “Francis Xaverius Seda Maumere Airport Flight Operations Temporarily Closed Until Thursday, October 15, 2025 At 06.00 WITA.” Authorities said the measure was taken as a precaution against volcanic ash, which poses a serious hazard to aircraft engines and visibility.
Indonesia’s disaster management and volcanology teams remain on high alert as they continue to monitor the situation around Lewotobi. The archipelago nation, which sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is home to more than 120 active volcanoes and frequently experiences volcanic eruptions and earthquakes due to its location atop multiple tectonic plate boundaries.
Officials have urged residents to stay updated through local authorities and avoid entering restricted zones around the volcano while the highest alert remains in force.
