JAKARTA - Large eruptions of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province on Monday disrupted air travel and posed serious health risks due to the spread of volcanic ash.
Several international flights bound for I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali were canceled, while multiple domestic flights were suspended, according to the airport's official website.
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Among the international carriers affected were Malindo Air and Jetstar, which canceled arrivals, while AirAsia rescheduled its flights. Domestically, Wings Air, Lion Air, and Super Jet Air closed boarding gates for their operations.
Indonesia's Volcanology and Geology Disaster Mitigation Center reported that Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted several times, with the tallest ash column reaching up to 18,000 meters into the sky. This triggered the issuance of a red-level Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation, the highest alert, which prohibits aircraft from flying below 6,000 meters in the affected airspace. Pilots were also advised to exercise caution due to the presence of volcanic ash, which can damage aircraft engines and systems.
Richard Felt, a senior official at the provincial Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency, said the agency had prepared for such risks by distributing face masks to residents to prevent respiratory issues.
"The volcanic ash has reached all parts of the volcano's slopes. We have distributed masks to the people, as the risks are threatening their health," he told Xinhua.
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Felt added that residents have been advised to temporarily cease outdoor activities due to the continued spread of ash in residential areas. "We have asked the residents to halt their activities if not urgent. This is for their safety," he said.
However, he confirmed that all residents had already been evacuated to safe zones following the previous strong eruption.
Standing at 1,584 meters, Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki is one of Indonesia's 127 active volcanoes.
