Bali flights canceled as Lewotobi volcano eruption sends ash 9 km (29 500 feet) high, Indonesia
Flight disruptions continue for thousands of travelers as Indonesia’s Lewotobi volcano intensifies, sending ash clouds as high as 9 km (29 500 feet) on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, prompting airlines to cancel flights to and from Bali’s main airport. Authorities expanded the exclusion zone as volcanic debris was ejected up to 8 km (5 miles) from the crater.
Lewotobi Laki-laki eruption on November 12, 2024. Credit: PVMBG
Indonesia’s Lewotobi volcano, located in East Nusa Tenggara, has continued erupting since November 3, disrupting flights in the region.
On November 12, ash clouds were ejected at least 17 times, with the largest plume reaching 9 km (29 500 feet) above sea level (a.s.l.), according to Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation.
Authorities expanded the exclusion zone after volcanic materials were observed reaching distances up to 8 km (5 miles) from the crater, marking the most intense eruption since the volcano’s current activity phase began on November 3. Emergency protocols have been heightened, and authorities advise continued caution within and around the expanded danger zone surrounding Lewotobi.
Thousands of travelers in Indonesia and Australia were reported stranded due to the eruption, which has caused ongoing flight disruptions at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. Since the activity began, ash columns have reached as high as 12.2 km (40 000 feet) above sea level, forcing officials to raise the Aviation Color Code to Red on November 3.
Between November 8 and 12, approximately 84 flights were affected at Bali’s international airport, including 36 scheduled departures and 48 arrivals, with flight operations hindered due to fluctuating visibility and ash levels.
Virgin Australia canceled 10 flights to and from Indonesia on November 13, citing adverse weather conditions from volcanic activity. Qantas also experienced delays, with two return flights between Australia and Denpasar postponed. Jetstar took similar action, stating that travel conditions were unsafe due to the ash cloud from Mount Lewotobi.
More than 2 300 homes were damaged or destroyed and 9 people were killed on November 3 after lava bombs reached distances up to 4 km (2.1 miles) from the crater.
Volcanic activity at Lewotobi intensified further on November 7, with multiple eruptions propelling ash up to 16.7 km (55 000 feet) a.s.l. A powerful eruption occurred at 20:47 UTC on November 8, sending ash to an altitude of 15.2 km (50 000 feet). This was followed by another explosion at 00:50 UTC on November 9, raising the ash cloud to 15.8 km (52 000 feet) a.s.l., according to data provided by Darwin VAAC.
As a long-term safety measure, the government of Indonesia announced on November 6 plans to permanently relocate residents from within a 7 km (4 mile) radius of the volcano. This will now probably be extended to 8 km (5 miles).
References
1 Ash cloud hangs over Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki after eight eruptions – Reuters – November 13, 2024
2 Indonesia’s volcanic eruption grounds international flights on tourist island of Bali – AP news – November 13, 2024
Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.
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