Lewotabi Laki-laki: Travellers warned to monitor flight schedules as Indonesian volcano explodes ash stream
Local authorities in Indonesia have issued alerts advising travellers to Bali and other islands in the region to be vigilant about checking their flight schedules, after one of the world’s most active volcanoes exploded an ash stream kilometres into the air.
Mount Laki-Laki on the Flores Islands erupted at least eight times last weekend and with the volcano becoming increasingly active since the end of last year, air travel is set to be affected again as the island nation teeters on the highest alert level.
Holidaymakers heading to Bali, especially those travelling from Australia and New Zealand have been urged to keep a close eye on travel updates over the next week.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The Bali Sun is reporting the Head of the Indonesian Geological Agency, Muhammad Wafid, announced on Sunday that “Lewotobi Laki Laki’s activities are still high and the potential for a larger eruption than before can occur.”
“Our analysis showed that the activities of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki are still high so we raised the status level starting on Sunday at 8pm.”
The latest eruptions caused ash clouds to spew in the range of 3km to 5km into the air with another follow-up eruption on Monday morning peaking at 1.2km.
A 6km radius has been cleared and local residents are on high alert for the risks of a cold lava flow should heavy rainfall in the coming days.
Warnings of potential flight delays, disruptions, and cancellations similar to those in March when six flights were delayed at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, and seven more were cancelled, are highly likely.
Six of the canceled flights were operated by Jetstar, with two flights to Melbourne, a flight to Sydney, a flight to Brisbane, a flight to Adelaide, and a flight to Perth all cancelled. The seventh flight was an AirAsia service to Kuala Lumpur.
“The eruption was accompanied by a loud band that was heard from the Lewotobi Laki-Laki PGA Post,” Lewotobi Laki Laki Volcano Observation Post Officer, Herman Yosef Mboro said.
