Denpasar, Indonesia –
Travel chaos has hit Bali's international airport after a major volcanic
eruption on the nearby island of Flores forced the cancellation of numerous
flights. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes,
violently erupted on Tuesday afternoon, catapulting a massive column of
volcanic ash more than 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) high into the atmosphere.
Highest Alert Issued, Evacuations Underway
The powerful eruption at 17:35
local time (10:35 BST) prompted Indonesia's volcanology agency to immediately
raise the alert level for Lewotobi Laki-Laki to the highest status. Authorities
have established a 7-kilometer exclusion zone around the crater, urging
residents to avoid all activities within this danger radius. As a precaution,
officials have also called on people in surrounding areas to wear face masks to
protect against falling ash.
Tremors continue to be detected,
signaling ongoing volcanic activity. This has led the National Disaster
Mitigation Agency to advise residents near the volcano to "evacuate to
safe locations." Reports confirm at least one village has already been
evacuated, with ash rain falling in several areas outside the immediate
exclusion zone. Geology agency head Muhammad Wafid issued an additional warning
about the risk of potentially deadly lahar floods –
fast-moving mudflows of volcanic debris – should heavy rain occur.
Significant Flight Disruptions Hit Bali
The vast ash cloud poses a severe hazard
to aircraft engines, leading to widespread flight cancellations and delays at
Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, located west of Flores. Flight
data by Wednesday noon showed over 20 flights cancelled, disrupting
travel plans for thousands.
Major international airlines affected include:
- Air
India
- Air
New Zealand
- Jetstar
- Juneyao
Airlines
- Singapore
Airlines
- Virgin
Australia
Domestic travel was also impacted, with several AirAsia
flights departing for Flores cancelled.
History of Activity on the "Ring of Fire"
This eruption
is a stark reminder of the region's volatility. Lewotobi Laki-Laki is part of a
twin-peaked volcano complex. Its namesake peak ("Laki-Laki" meaning
"man" in Indonesian) is paired with the taller, currently calmer
Mount Lewotobi Perempuan ("woman"). Tragically, the volcano
experienced multiple eruptions just last November, resulting in nine
fatalities and forcing thousands to flee their homes. Its most recent
prior eruption was in May, which also triggered the highest alert level.
Indonesia sits
squarely on the seismically active Pacific "Ring of Fire," where
the collision of tectonic plates leads to frequent earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions. The latest activity of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki underscores the
constant geological threat facing the archipelago and its crucial tourism
infrastructure, particularly the gateway island of Bali. Travelers are advised
to monitor airline updates and official volcanic activity reports closely.
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