On Monday morning, July 7th, the Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano in East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia, erupted violently once again. The volcanic ash cloud reached a height of up to 18,000 meters, nearly reaching the top of the troposphere, displaying an extraordinarily massive scale. The volcano has been on the highest alert level since mid-last month.
The Indonesian Geological Agency announced that a major eruption occurred around 11:05 AM local time on Monday, with a large amount of high-temperature gas surging out, generating a dense ash cloud shooting up to 18,000 meters into the sky, accompanied by tremendous roaring sounds.
The agency pointed out that the erupted hot volcanic ash cloud, along with a mixture of rocks, lava, and high-temperature gases, cascaded down the volcano’s slope, spreading up to five kilometers away. Drone observations showed that lava filled the entire crater, indicating deep magma movement triggering volcanic earthquakes. There have been no reports of casualties so far.
Muhammad Wafid, the director of the Indonesian Geological Agency, stated in a released statement that this volcanic activity was “exceptionally intense, characterized by explosive eruptions and continuous tremors.” He advised residents and tourists to stay at least 6 kilometers away from the volcano and recommended wearing masks to prevent inhaling hazardous volcanic ash.
Communities along rivers near the volcano have also received warnings, with authorities reminding the public to beware of the risk of volcanic mudflows that may be triggered by heavy rainfall.
Following the eruption on June 18th, the Indonesian Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center has raised the alert level of Mount Lewotobi to the highest Level IV, expanding the danger zone to eight kilometers around the crater.
Due to the drifting volcanic ash, Maumere Airport in Hika County, East Nusa Tenggara Province, suspended flights on Monday. According to an official letter from the airport manager, the airport will remain closed until tomorrow, July 8th. Additionally, at least five international flights between Australia and Bali were canceled, with multiple flights experiencing delays.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued “distant earthquake-related information” regarding the Indonesian volcanic eruption and will continue to monitor whether the volcanic activity causes abnormal changes in the sea and poses a risk of triggering tsunamis.
Mount Lewotobi is a 1,703-meter twin-peaked volcano located in the eastern part of Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia, and has been active since the end of 2023. Records from November 2024, March 2025, and June 2025 showed astonishing volcanic ash clouds reaching 16,000 meters in height, highlighting the region’s powerful volcanic energy and the significant threat it poses.
Indonesia, situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, is one of the most volcano-dense countries globally, with over 120 active volcanoes. The nation experiences the highest frequency of volcanic activity and earthquakes worldwide.