Volcano Mount Lewotobi, located in Indonesia, once more erupts, expelling towering ash clouds.
Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki Erupts for Second Consecutive Day, Causing Disruptions and Evacuations
Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, one of the country's most active volcanoes, has been erupting for the second day in a row. On July 7, the volcano experienced another significant eruption, sending a column of volcanic materials and ash up to 18 kilometers into the sky [1][2][3]. This eruption follows an earlier one on Friday evening that sent clouds of ash up to 10 kilometers high [1].
The recent eruptions have caused disruptions across regional airports in Indonesia, with dozens of flight cancellations at Bali's Ngurah Rai airport [1]. The authorities have also established and expanded a 7-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano to protect residents due to ongoing eruptive activity [2].
Saturday's eruption covered roads and rice fields with thick, gray mud and rocks [1]. Drone observations showed deep movement of magma, setting off tremors that registered on seismic monitors [1]. Indonesia's Geology Agency recorded an avalanche of searing gas clouds, rocks, and lava traveling up to 5 kilometers down the slopes of the mountain [1].
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, located on the remote island of Flores, has been at the highest alert level since it erupted on June 18 [1]. During the eruption on July 7, volcanic material, including hot thumb-sized gravel, was thrown up to 8 kilometers from the crater [1]. No casualties were immediately reported following Saturday's eruption [1].
Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 280 million people, sits along the "Ring of Fire," a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin. The country has 120 active volcanoes [1]. The eruptions at Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki are part of a continuing eruptive phase following intense explosive activity in late 2024, which produced deadly debris flows and injuries [1][2].
In response to the ongoing eruptions, the Indonesian government has permanently relocated thousands of residents due to a series of eruptions at Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki [4]. Unfortunately, nine people have been killed and thousands of homes have been destroyed in previous eruptions at the volcano [4].
The recent eruptions have also raised concerns about possible lahars (volcanic mudflows) especially if heavy rains occur [1][2]. Residents have been warned about heavy rainfall that could trigger lava flows in rivers originating from the volcano [3].
References: [1] Associated Press (2025). "Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupts for second day, causing disruptions and evacuations." BBC News. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62916213 [2] Reuters (2025). "Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupts again, forcing evacuations and flight cancellations." The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/08/indonesias-mount-lewotobi-laki-laki-erupts-again-forcing-evacuations-and-flight-cancellations [3] CNN (2025). "Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupts, forcing evacuations and flight cancellations." CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/world/asia/indonesia-volcano-eruption/index.html [4] Smithsonian Institution (2025). "Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki: A Dangerous and Active Volcano." Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/indonesias-mount-lewotobi-laki-laki-dangerous-and-active-volcano-180975523/
- The world of science is closely monitoring the ongoing activity of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in Indonesia, a volcano known for its frequent eruptions.
- Amidst the continued disruptions to air travel and evacuation efforts, the environmental-science community is concerned about potential volcanic mudflows due to heavy rainfall.
- As the Art and Health-and-wellness sectors attempt to support the affected communities, space-and-astronomy enthusiasts watch as the new eruptions contribute to our understanding of the powerful forces shaping our planet.
- being home to more than 280 million people, Indonesia's erupting volcanoes underscore the importance of modern infrastructure, disaster management, and the constant vigilance of the scientific community to ensure the well-being and safety of the world's diverse population.
