Sky-splitting eruption: Mount Lewotobi ash plume hits 18 ilometres

Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki‑Laki volcano erupted violently on Monday, July 7, spewing ash and volcanic materials as high as 18 kilometres (11 miles) into the sky, according to the country’s geological agency Badan Geologi. The eruption triggered searing pyroclastic flows—fast‑moving clouds of hot gas and debris—racing down the volcano’s slopes. Authorities have so far reported no casualties. It marked the second major eruption in less than a month, following a June 18 event that sent ash 10 kilometres into the atmosphere. The eruption caused significant disruption to international air travel, with at least five return flights between Australia and Bali cancelled and multiple others delayed, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). The Japan Meteorological Agency said it was currently assessing whether the eruption could trigger a tsunami or pose a threat to Japan, given the eruption’s intensity and height of the ash plume. Authorities in Indonesia have issued safety advisories for communities living around the volcano and for aviation operators in the region. The alert level remains under review.