Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted on Thursday, spewing an ash plume 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) high crowned by volcanic lightning. This event occurred just weeks after a colossal 18km eruption from the same volcano forced dozens of flight cancellations in Bali last month.
The 1,584-meter (5,197-foot) volcano, located on the tourist island of Flores east of Jakarta, generated an eruptive column observed at approximately 10,000 meters above its summit, according to Indonesia’s volcanology agency. Immediate reports indicated no damage or casualties.
Muhammad Wafid, head of the geological agency, stated the eruption was triggered by gas buildup over recent weeks. He also warned of potential dangerous lahar floods – mudflows or debris flows of volcanic material – if heavy rain occurs, particularly for communities near rivers. Authorities instructed tourists and residents to avoid a six-kilometer radius around the crater.
Images released by the geological agency captured volcanic lightning near the ash plume’s peak. While last month’s massive 18km eruption cancelled 24 flights at Bali’s international airport, there were no immediate reports of flight disruptions following Thursday’s event.
The volcano, whose name “Laki-Laki” means “man” in Indonesian, is paired with the taller, calmer Mount Perempuan (1,703 meters), derived from the Indonesian word for “woman”.