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Bali volcano eruption: Ash clouds from Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki ground flights, thousands stranded

The volcano spewed a 9km (6.2 miles) ash column into the sky over the weekend, one week after a major eruption killed 10 people

Bali Flight Services: Passengers look at a flight information board showing a number of flights cancelled due to the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, Indonesia, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

Numerous international airlines suspended their services to and from Bali due to ongoing ash clouds from Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on Flores, which reached heights of 10 km and forced several residents to evacuate.

Safety concerns surrounding volcanic ash led Jetstar and Qantas to halt their Bali flights on Wednesday, with Flightradar24 also indicating that AirAsia and Virgin had suspended flights to the island. Singapore Airlines confirmed its Wednesday flight from Bali to Singapore was cancelled due to the volcanic activity.

The volcano released a massive 9km (6.2 miles) ash column into the sky over the weekend, following a major eruption last week that claimed the lives of 10 people.

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Operations at Lombok airport in West Nusa Tenggara, another popular tourist spot, were completely halted, according to a statement from an airport official to Indonesia’s Antara news agency.

Passengers look at a flight information board after a number of flights are cancelled due to the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, Indonesia, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

The cancellations have left many tourists stranded at airports. Reports suggested that the airline didn’t offer any accommodation, leaving thousands stuck at the airport.

According to report by AP, the disruptions have stranded thousands of travellers across airports in Indonesia and Australia, though exact figures have not yet been reported.

The initial eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki occurred on 3 November in East Nusa Tenggara province, approximately 800 km from Bali, claiming nine lives. Since then, further eruptions have continued, with several occurring on Tuesday.

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Between 4 and 12 November, Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport reported 80 flight cancellations, impacting routes from Singapore, Hong Kong, and multiple Australian cities, according to Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, the airport’s general manager.

A passenger checks a flight information board showing flights cancelled due to the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, Indonesia, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

As many as 26 domestic and 64 international flights had been affected by recent eruptions as of Wednesday afternoon.

“Due to this natural event impacting flight operations, airlines are offering affected passengers the options of refunds, rescheduling, or re-routing,” Shahab added.

Activities across Indonesia have been impacted by the volcanic ash, including a jazz festival in the town of Labuan Bajo, approximately 600km from Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki. The festival, initially scheduled for this year, has now been postponed until next year due to safety concerns.

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Located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” Indonesia contains almost 130 active volcanoes, with the area characterised by intense seismic activity across several tectonic plates. The Mount Lewotobi eruption has resulted in a 10 km-high ash column, with authorities reporting sand deposits across nearby areas.

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