Massive eruption: Mount Lewotobi blasts ash 10km into sky

Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province erupted dramatically on Tuesday (June 17), launching a colossal ash plume 32,000 feet (6.8 miles) into the sky and forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate. The powerful eruption occurred just after 5:35pm local time, producing a vast mushroom-shaped ash cloud visible from up to 90 kilometres away. Indonesia’s volcanology agency confirmed the eruption and raised the volcano’s alert status to its highest level. Authorities warned residents and tourists to stay at least 6 kilometres from the crater and avoid unverified information. Communities downstream of the volcano were also told to watch for the threat of lava floods during heavy rain, particularly in areas like Dulipali, Nobo, Hokeng Jaya, and Nurabelen. Officials urged residents affected by ashfall to wear masks or cover their mouths and noses to prevent respiratory issues. Lewotobi consists of twin peaks—Lewotobi Laki-laki and Lewotobi Perempuan—and has shown signs of increasing volcanic activity since 2023. Tuesday’s eruption is the strongest so far in the recent cycle.