Bali flights cancelled after Indonesia’s Lewotobi volcano erupts

Several flights to and from the island of the Bali Indonesian complex have been canceled or delayed after one of the country’s most active volcanoes broke out.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on the island of Flores spitted an ash tower over 11 km (6.8 mi) in the sky at 17:35 local time (10:35 BST) on Tuesday, said the country’s volcanology agency.

There was no victims report. The authorities have increased the highest level of alert and recommended for residents to avoid activities within a 7 km radius around the crater.

Air India, Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Juneyao Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia were one of those who canceled the flights to and from Bali, located west of Flores.

Flight data from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport showed on Wednesday that more than 20 flights were canceled due to the volcano.

Several Airasia domestic flights leaving for Flores have also been canceled.

The Double Double Volcano broke out several times in November, killing nine people and forcing thousands of people to flee.

The chief of the geology agency Muhammad Wafid warned against the potential floods of Lahar – a type of mud or debris of volcanic materials – if heavy rain occurs.

Residents were also invited to wear facial masks to protect themselves from volcanic ashes.

The national disasters attenuation agency said that at least one village had been evacuated and that ash rains had been reported in several others outside the exclusion zone.

A spokesperson called residents around the volcano “to evacuate towards safe places” as tremors were still detected, which indicated a volcanic activity in progress.

Indonesia is on the Pacific “fire ring” where tectonic plates collide, causing frequent volcanic activity as well as earthquakes.

The last eruption of Lewotobi Laki-Laki was in May, when the authorities also increased the most serious level.

Laki-Laki, which means “man” in Indonesian, is twinned with the 1,703 m quieter but bigger named Peempuan, the Indonesian word for “woman”.