Lewotobi Male Volcano Eruption (June 2025)

On 17 June 2025, a volcanic event occurred following a violent eruption of the male crater of Mount Lewotobi in the East Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia, with effects still ongoing. The explosion disrupted air traffic across the region, triggered evacuations, and prompted the highest level of alert to be declared.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki is a twin-structured volcano located in the East Flores region of Indonesia. It consists of two adjacent craters: the Laki-Laki crater (Indonesian for “male”) and the Perempuan crater (Indonesian for “female”). Mount Lewotobi has an elevation of approximately 1,584 meters. This region, part of the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” is a seismic and volcanic belt that frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic activity within Indonesia’s population of 270 million.

On 17 June 2025 at around 17:35, a major volcanic eruption occurred at Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki. The Indonesian Geological Agency reported that the explosion produced dense gray ash clouds reaching a height of approximately 10,000 meters (32,800 feet). The resulting ash cloud spread into the atmosphere in a mushroom shape and was observed from cities as far as 150 kilometers away.

In the hours preceding the eruption, a significant increase in seismic activity at the volcano was recorded. Volcanic activity, which normally occurs 8 to 10 times per day, was detected 50 times within the two hours before the explosion. The following morning, the volcano erupted again, emitting ash and forming a second ash column reaching a height of approximately one kilometer.

As a result of the eruption, flights were suspended at Ngurah Rai (Denpasar) International Airport on Bali and other regional airports. Angkasa Pura Indonesia, the operator of Indonesian airports, announced the cancellation of numerous domestic and international flights due to the threat posed by volcanic ash clouds.

The canceled international flights included services operated by Jetstar and Virgin Australia (Australia), Air India (India), Air New Zealand (New Zealand), Singapore Airlines (Singapore), and Juneyao Airlines (China). A large portion of AirAsia’s domestic flights were also canceled. Fransiskus Xaverius Seda Airport was announced to remain closed until at least 19 June 2025.

Following the eruption, the Indonesian Geological Agency and the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) raised the hazard level to the highest alert level, Level IV. Accordingly, an 8-kilometer radius around the crater was declared a danger zone, and evacuation of villages within this area was carried out. Residents were warned that lava flows could spread into river channels during rainfall.

The evacuated villages include Talibura and other settlements located to the east and northeast of the volcano. Disaster management agencies reported that temporary shelter and food services were provided during the evacuation process. As of 18 June 2025, volcanic activity at the mountain continues.