Volcanic eruption cancels flights in Bali

More than 30 flights to and from the Indonesian island of Bali have been cancelled following the eruption of the Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano, which spewed a column of ash up to 10 kilometres high the day before, authorities said on Wednesday.

According to Bali's international airport, 12 international flights operated by various airlines have been cancelled, including connections between Bali and Singapore, Melbourne and Sydney, as well as four domestic flights. Thirteen international flights and two domestic flights to the island, located about 800 kilometres west of Flores Island, where the volcano is located, have also been suspended .

At 1,584 meters high, Lewotobi Laki-laki remains active after Tuesday's eruption released thick clouds of gray ash to a height of 10,000 meters, forming a mushroom cloud visible from more than 90 kilometers away, according to the Indonesian Geology Agency.

Authorities have raised the alert to the highest level (level IV) and extended the exclusion zone to a radius of eight kilometers from the crater, warning residents of the risk of lava flows in the event of heavy rains. According to the same source, 50 episodes of volcanic activity were recorded in just two hours - well above the usual average of eight to ten per day.

At least 450 families have already been evacuated from the risk area, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). So far, there have been no reports of victims.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki is located in the southeast of Flores Island, in the Flores Timur district, and forms a double volcanic system with Mount Lewotobi Perempuan. It has been experiencing frequent activity in recent months: in March, it spewed ash about eight kilometers into the air, and in November a series of eruptions caused nine deaths and dozens of injuries.

Indonesia, an archipelago with 270 million inhabitants, is located on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of ​​intense seismic and volcanic activity. The country is home to more than 400 volcanoes, of which 120 are active, 65 of which are considered dangerous. In December 2023, the eruption of the Merapi volcano on the island of Sumatra caused 23 deaths.