Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelagic country, and it boasts a staggering 17,000 islands, many of which, including Bali, Lombok, Sumba, Sumatra and Flores, are popular holiday destinations.
However, the nation’s unique geography is down to its position on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a volcano on the island of Flores, erupted at around 5.30pm local time on Tuesday, impacting flights going to and from Bali. Got a trip booked? Here’s everything you need to know.
Is it safe to travel to Bali?
At 5.35 local time on June 17, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki spewed an ash cloud which reached more than 11km into the sky. No casualties have been reported, but local authorities have raised the highest alert level and advised residents to avoid the 7km radius of the crater, and to wear masks to protect against inhaling volcanic ash.
According to the BBC, Muhammad Wafid, head of the Geology Agency, has warned against the potential for lahar floods (which is a type of volcanic debris) if heavy rain falls. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency has said at least one village has been evacuated, with ash rain being reported in multiple areas outside of the exclusion zone.
The volcano erupted again early this morning, according to Reuters, and the radius to avoid has been extended to 8km.
Though flights to and from Bali have been impacted by the eruption, it’s still safe to visit Bali.
Where was the volcanic eruption in Indonesia?
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki is on the Indonesian island of Flores, which is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands in the eastern half of the archipelago. Bali is located to the west of Flores.
Are more eruptions expected?
Indonesia’s geological agency reportedly recorded more than 50 tremors in the two hours leading up to Tuesday’s eruption, which drastically exceeds the daily regularity of between eight and 10 events.
It’s not clear whether more eruptions are expected, though authorities believe the ash cloud should clear by this evening. The best thing to do is monitor local news for all the latest information.
Have flights to Bali been cancelled?
Yes. While Indonesian authorities are expecting the cloud to clear by Wednesday night, multiple airlines have cancelled flights to and from Bali.
Data from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali shows that so far, 37 flights have been cancelled due to the ash cloud, including ones operated by Air India, Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Juneyao Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia. The BBC also reports that several domestic AirAsia flights leaving for Flores were cancelled.
Three airports in East Nusa Tenggara province, including Fransiskus Xaverius Seda in Maumere, have been closed until Thursday by the government to prioritise the safety of passengers.
What is the UK Foreign Office saying?
The FCDO has not updated its Indonesia travel advice page specifically in light of this eruption, but it does advise against all travel to the following volcanic sites:
- Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province, to within 7km of the crater
- Mount Sinabung, Karo Regency, North Sumatra, to within 5km of the crater
- Mount Marapi, West Sumatra, to within 3km of the crater
- Mount Semeru, Lumajang Regency, East Java, to within 5km of the crater and in the south-east of Mount Semura to within 500m from any riverbank of the Besuk Kobokan river for 13km from the crater
- Mount Ruang, Northern Sulawesi, to within 7km of the crater
- Mount Ibu, North Maluku Province, to within 7km of the crater
The safety and security section of this advice page also reads: ‘There are lots of active volcanoes in Indonesia. They can erupt without warning and eruptions have caused destruction and fatalities. The authorities usually evacuate villages within a 3km to 7km radius of the eruption.’
‘Check news reports and updates on volcanic activity (in Bahasa language) before travelling to areas that are prone to volcanic activity. While near any volcano, you should: respect exclusion zones; monitor local media; stay alert and listen to any local warnings; follow the advice of the local authorities, including any evacuation orders.’
What are your rights if you’ve booked a trip to Bali?
To see if your trip can be rearranged or cancelled, you’ll need to contact your travel provider directly, as the advice from the FCDO will not automatically entitle you to a full refund. If you do enter one of the zones advised against by the FCDO, that will invalidate your travel insurance.
When was the last eruption in Indonesia?
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki’s last eruption was in May, when the threat level was raised to the most severe, but it also erupted several times back in November 2024, leading to nine deaths and the evacuation of thousands of residents.
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