Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki Erupts in Indonesia, Sends Ash 11 Miles Into Sky

East Flores, Indonesia — Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, one of Indonesia’s active volcanoes, erupted on Monday, July 7, sending a massive column of ash and volcanic material as high as 11 miles into the sky. Ash fell on nearby villages, but no casualties have been reported so far.

The volcano had already been on the highest alert level since June 18, following a series of smaller eruptions. Monday’s eruption was its most powerful since November 2024, when a deadly blast killed nine people and injured dozens.

Volcanic Activity Intensifies

Indonesia’s Geology Agency confirmed that hot clouds of gas, ash, rocks, and lava flowed up to 3 miles down the slopes. Drones monitoring the crater showed lava filling the top, which suggests strong magma movement beneath the surface.

“The eruption column today is the highest we’ve seen since last year,” said Muhammad Wafid, the head of the Geology Agency, speaking from a seminar in Switzerland. “We may need to expand the danger zone to keep villagers and tourists safe.”

The exclusion zone around the volcano was already doubled last month to a radius of 4.3 miles due to increased volcanic activity.

Airport Closed, Villagers on Alert

Indonesia’s Frans Seda Airport, located on the same island, has been closed since early 2024 and remains shut due to ongoing seismic risks.

The volcano is located in the district of Flores Timur and stands 5,197 feet high. It is part of a twin-volcano system with Mount Lewotobi Perempuan nearby.

So far, local authorities have evacuated thousands of people. In previous eruptions, like the one last year, over 6,500 people were moved to safety.

Among the Largest Eruptions Since 2010

Monday’s event is being called one of Indonesia’s most powerful volcanic eruptions since 2010, when Mount Merapi erupted on the island of Java, killing 353 people and displacing over 350,000.

Indonesia is no stranger to natural disasters. It sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly active seismic zone with over 120 active volcanoes. The country’s population of more than 280 million lives with frequent risks of earthquakes and eruptions.