Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi erupts again, spews ash 18km high

This is the third time the volcano has erupted in as many months.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province erupted on Monday (Jul 7), spewing a towering ash cloud 18km high.
PHOTO: Screengrab/TikTok/bobedwinmau and indopacific

July 07, 2025 

By Sean Ler

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in eastern Indonesia erupted on Monday (July 7), spewing a towering ash cloud 18km high and depositing ash on villages, according to the country's volcanology agency.

The 1,584m-high twin-peaked volcano on the tourist island of Flores erupted at 11.05am local time (12.05pm Singapore time), the volcanology agency said in a statement.

"An eruption of Lewatobi Laki-Laki volcano occured... with the observed ash column height reaching approximately 18,000m above the summit," the agency said.

This comes nearly one month after the volcano erupted and spewed towering ash clouds some 11 km high, leading to flight cancellations in and out of the nearby island of Bali, Reuters reported.

The volcano's alert level status remains at the highest level. According to the Associated Press, the Indonesian authorities have doubled an exclusion zone to a 7-kilometre radius since June 18 as eruptions become more frequent.

There were no immediate reports of damages or casualties.

Indonesia has over 120 active volcanoes and sits along the "Ring of Fire", a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

One of Indonesia's largest volcano eruptions since 2010: Mount Lewotobi sends ash 11 miles high

Indonesia's Geology Agency said in a statement it recorded the volcano unleashing an avalanche of searing gas clouds down its slopes during the eruption; There were no immediate reports of casualties.

(AP) Published 07.07.25,

Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki spews volcanic materials during an eruption in East Flores, IndonesiaPTI

Indonesia's rumbling Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted Monday, sending a column of volcanic materials as high as 18 kilometres into the sky and depositing ash on villages.

The volcano has been at the highest alert level since last month and no casualties were immediately reported.

Indonesia's Geology Agency recorded an avalanche of searing gas clouds mixed with rocks and lava traveling up to 5 kilometres down the volcano's slopes during the eruption. Observations from drones showed lava filling the crater, indicating deep movement of magma that set off volcanic earthquakes.


The column of hot clouds that rose into the sky was the volcano's highest since the major eruption in November 2024 that killed nine people and injured dozens, said Muhammad Wafid, the Geology Agency chief. It also erupted in March.

“An eruption of that size certainly carries a higher potential for danger, including its impact on aviation,” Wafid told The Associated Press from Switzerland where he was attending a seminar. “We shall reevaluate to enlarge its danger zone that must be cleared of villagers and tourist activities.”

The volcano monitoring agency had increased the alert status for Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki to the highest level after an eruption on June 18, and more than doubled an exclusion zone to a 7-kilometre radius since then as eruptions became more frequent.

After an eruption early last year, about 6,500 people evacuated and the island's Frans Seda Airport was closed. The airport has remained closed since then due to the continuing seismic activity.

The 1,584-metre mountain is a twin volcano with Mount Lewotobi Perempuan in the district of Flores Timur.

Monday's eruption was one of Indonesia's largest volcano eruptions since 2010 when Mount Merapi, the country's most volatile volcano erupted on the densely populated island of Java. That eruption killed 353 people and forced over 350,000 people to evacuate affected areas.

Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 280 million people with frequent seismic activity. It has 120 active volcanoes and sits along the “Ring of Fire,” a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano erupts again

Column of volcanic ash shoots up as high as 18 kilometers into sky, according to authorities

Anadolu staff |07.07.2025 - TRT/AA

ANKARA

Thick columns of volcanic ash burst into the sky after Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted Monday, the country's Geology Agency said.

The eruption sent a column of volcanic materials as high as 18 kilometers (11 miles) into the sky and deposited ash on villages.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The volcano unleashed an avalanche of searing gas clouds down its slopes, said the agency that had increased the volcano’s alert status to the highest level after an eruption on June 18.

At least nine people were killed and dozens were injured following an eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki last November.

The 1,584-meter (5,197-foot) mountain also erupted in March but caused no casualties.

It is a twin volcano with Mount Lewotobi Perempuan in the district of Flores Timur.

Indonesia has 120 active volcanoes and sits along the “Ring of Fire,” a string of seismic fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

Also, dozens of neighborhoods in the capital Jakarta were inundated due to heavy rain that has been pouring since Saturday, the local English daily Jakarta Globe reported on Monday.

*Writing by Aamir Latif