Ash plume from Indonesian volcano grounds flights from Bali

By 9:45 am Friday, Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport had cancelled seven international flights—six Jetstar flights to Australia and one AirAsia flight to Kuala Lumpur—while several other domestic and international flights, including to Thailand, Singapore, and Australia, faced delays, airport spokesperson Andadina Dyah confirmed, The Guardian reported. Normal operations were expected to resume later on Friday.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki spews volcanic materials into the air in East Flores, Indonesia Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ester Narek)

The eruption follows a series of smaller ones since March 13, according to the national geological agency. According to a report by Reuters, a disaster mitigation spokesperson confirmed one injury during evacuations, though details remain unclear.

While there were no reports of damage to nearby villages, authorities warned of potential volcanic mudflows due to heavy rainfall.

The prolonged eruption led Indonesia’s geological agency to raise the volcano’s alert level to the highest tier. Officials have imposed an exclusion zone of 7 to 8 km (4 to 5 miles) around Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki.

The same volcano erupted in November, killing at least nine people and displacing thousands. Indonesian authorities had planned permanent relocations for affected residents, though the number impacted by Thursday’s eruption is still unknown.

Authorities warned of potential lava floods and reported continued smaller eruptions on Friday. Indonesia, home to nearly 130 active volcanoes, sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it highly prone to seismic activity.

From the homepage

Govt cancels foreign funding licence of Sonam Wangchuk’s NGO amid Ladakh protests

‘Intent to malign reputation’: Sameer Wankhede moves Delhi High Court against Aryan Khan’s ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’

After protests and deaths, the crackdown: 50 people picked up, Congress councillor booked in Leh