Dozens of flights to and from Bali, Indonesia, were cancelled on Monday after a volcano expelled a massive ash column reaching 18 kilometres (11 miles) into the atmosphere, according to officials.
This air travel disruption follows similar chaos just weeks ago, when the same active volcano led to the cancellation of numerous flights to and from the well-known tourist destination.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, situated on the island of Flores—a popular tourist site—erupted at 11:05 a.m. (0305 GMT), as reported by Indonesia's volcanology agency.
"An eruption of Lewotobi Laki-Laki Volcano occurred... with the observed ash column height reaching approximately 18,000 m above the summit," the agency said in its statement.
As a result, 24 flights at Bali’s international airport were cancelled, according to airport general manager Ahmad Syaugi Shahab.
"Several airlines serving the routes to Labuan Bajo (located on Flores), Australia, Singapore, and South Korea have confirmed cancellations and delays," he noted in a statement.
The affected airlines include Virgin Australia, Jetstar Airways, and AirAsia Indonesia.
Despite these cancellations, the airport manager clarified that "the spread of volcanic ash has not affected the Bali airspace."
Jetstar, an Australian airline, confirmed that multiple flights were cancelled “due to volcanic ash caused by an eruption of Mount Lewotobi.”
- 'Explosive eruptions' -
The volcanology agency also warned that heavy rainfall could trigger dangerous lahar floods—mudflows consisting of volcanic debris—which would particularly threaten residents living near river systems.
As of now, there have been no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
The volcano's activity level is deemed “very high,” featuring explosive eruptions and ongoing tremors, according to a statement from geology agency head Muhammad Wafid.
He also strongly advised people to stay at least six kilometres (3.7 miles) away from the volcano and to wear face masks to protect themselves from inhaling volcanic ash.
Just last month, numerous flights to and from Bali were cancelled after the volcano erupted, blanketing nearby communities with ash and prompting the evacuation of at least one village.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted several times in November, leading to the deaths of nine individuals and the evacuation of thousands. These eruptions also resulted in the cancellation of several international flights to Bali.
The name “Laki-Laki,” which translates to “man” in Indonesian, refers to the volcano's masculine identity. It is 1,584 metres (5,197 feet) tall and is paired with its taller but less active twin volcano, Perempuan, named after the Indonesian word for “woman,” which stands at 1,703 metres.
Indonesia, a large island nation, frequently experiences volcanic and seismic activity because of its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire."