Mount Lewotobi eruption disrupts Bali travel plans

Indonesia has recently faced significant travel disruptions due to the eruption of the Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano located on Flores Island. On Tuesday afternoon, June 17, 2025, the volcano erupted, sending an ash column soaring over 10 kilometers into the atmosphere. This event has had a severe impact on air travel to Bali, a popular tourist destination, with major airlines such as Jetstar and Virgin grounding flights to and from the island. Authorities have raised the disaster alert level to four, the highest possible, in response to this volcanic activity. The eruption and subsequent ash cloud led to the cancellation of at least 30 flights from various airlines, including Singapore Airlines and AirAsia X, according to reports from Bali’s international airport. Although the airport at Denpasar remained open, flights were severely delayed due to the ash moving in the vicinity. Travelers were advised to stay vigilant regarding flight status updates from their respective airlines to navigate this chaotic situation as best as possible. Local officials have taken precautionary measures for safety, urging residents and nearby travelers to maintain a distance of at least seven kilometers from the volcano’s crater. Face masks were recommended to protect against exposure to volcanic ash and debris. As a result of the precautionary measures, some towns even had to initiate evacuations as the air quality and visibility conditions severely worsened following the eruption. This eruption is reminiscent of previous volcanic activity in the area, which has historically caused significant travel interruptions and local evacuations. In November 2023, another eruption by Mount Lewotobi resulted in casualties and widespread evacuations. The current situation emphasizes the ongoing volcanic threats in the region and raises concerns for the tourism industry, which is heavily reliant on the accessibility of Bali as a travel destination.