Jakarta, June 19, 2025 – On June 17 and 18, 2025, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a big volcano on Indonesia’s Flores Island, erupted with a bang, shooting ash and smoke 16 kilometers (10 miles) into the sky. This huge eruption caused trouble, canceling flights to Bali, forcing thousands to leave their homes, and covering villages with ash. Indonesia is part of the “Ring of Fire,” where many volcanoes are active, and this event has worried people, especially Indian tourists who love visiting Bali. X is full of videos showing the scary scene, but Indonesians are staying strong.
A Big Volcano Wakes Up
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki is one of Indonesia’s 130 active volcanoes. It’s on Flores Island, not near Bali, and has a twin called Lewotobi Perempuan. Starting June 17, it erupted several times, sending giant ash clouds way up high. Hot gas and rocks flowed down, damaging villages up to 8 kilometers away. Indonesia’s volcano experts, called PVMBG, said it’s “very dangerous” and told everyone within 8 kilometers to get out fast.
The biggest eruption was on June 18 at 10:14 AM, with ash going 16 kilometers into the sky. On X, @WeatherMonitors shared videos of dark clouds covering everything, with people running as ash fell like rain. This volcano has been active since October 2024, and last November, a bad eruption killed nine people and made over 10,000 leave their homes.
Bali Flights Canceled, Tourists Stuck
The ash clouds spread across the sky, making it unsafe for planes to fly. Bali’s main airport, Ngurah Rai, closed on June 18, and airlines like IndiGo, Qantas, Jetstar, and AirAsia stopped many flights. Ash can ruin plane engines, so experts in Australia gave a “red alert” about ash up to 60,000 feet high. IndiGo, which many Indians use, canceled its Delhi-to-Bali flights, leaving people stuck.
Bali is super popular with Indian tourists, with 5.2 million visitors last year, but this eruption is hurting tourism. A local guide, Wayan Sudarma, told The Jakarta Post, “Tourists are scared and leaving early.” On X, @TravelJimat told Malaysian travelers to call their embassy, and Indian tourist @RaviSharma_IND wrote, “My Bali trip is spoiled!” Flights might start again by June 20 if the ash clears, but it’s not certain.
Thousands Run to Safety
Over 16,000 people from 12 villages near the volcano had to leave their homes, staying in schools and halls. The eruptions wrecked houses, crops, and water, making life tough for farmers. Indonesia’s disaster team, BNPB, said no one died this time because they moved people out fast, but last November’s tragedy is still fresh. They’re giving masks, food, and water, but rains coming on June 19 could cause muddy floods, called lahars, that might harm villages.
A farmer, Maria Goreti from Hokeng village, told Reuters, “Our crops are gone; we don’t know how to survive.” X posts, like @MarioNawfal’s from November, show houses buried in ash and people escaping. The volcano shook 48 times on June 18, so more eruptions might come.
Living with Volcanoes
Indonesia is on the “Ring of Fire,” where volcanoes and earthquakes happen a lot. With 130 active volcanoes, like Merapi and Anak Krakatau, disasters are common. Lewotobi’s eruptions show how hard life is, as 75% of Indonesia’s 270 million people live near volcanoes. The PVMBG uses tools to watch volcanoes, but they need more help to reach far places. President Prabowo Subianto gave $10 million for aid and asked other countries to pitch in, saying, “We’re strong because of these challenges.”
The ash could change the weather, maybe delaying India’s monsoon, which worries our farmers. On X, @volcaholic1 shared facts about volcanoes but also showed how tough it is for locals.
How Indonesia Is Helping
The BNPB sent 1,200 workers to help people leave and bring food, water, and masks. Army helicopters dropped supplies to hard-to-reach villages. The Health Ministry made small clinics to help people coughing from ash. Australia gave $500,000, and India sent medicines. India’s Minister S. Jaishankar posted on X, “India is with Indonesia now.”
Airlines are flying through other cities like Singapore and Jakarta, and Singapore Airlines added more Bali flights. Bali’s tourism team started a “Bali Safe” campaign on X, but @TravelJimat said another airport, Labuan Bajo, is closed too. Fixing homes and farms could take six months and cost over $150 million, like last year’s damage.
Problems to Solve
Indonesia knows how to handle disasters, but it’s not easy:
- More Eruptions: The volcano might erupt again, and experts need better tools to watch it.
- Money Trouble: Bali’s tourism, which earns a lot, is losing crores, and small shops are in trouble. Indian travel agents say 20% fewer people are going to Bali.
- Muddy Floods: Rain could cause dangerous mudflows near villages.
- Crowded Shelters: Places where people are staying don’t have enough bathrooms, and last November, some got sick.
The PVMBG is adding new tech to guess when eruptions will happen, and the government wants to move 2,000 families to safer spots, but it’ll take time. Indian scientists are watching too, as we have a small volcano in the Andaman Islands.
Indonesians Stay Brave
The world is amazed by Lewotobi’s eruptions, with X posts like @AP_News sharing photos of huge ash clouds. Indian tourists, who love Bali’s temples like ours, are upset, as @RaviSharma_IND posted. But Indonesians are tough. A priest in Hokeng, Father Yohanes Kopong, told The Guardian, “We trust God and will rebuild.” The volcano’s name, “male husband” in local stories, means strength, and people are praying for safety.
As Bali’s airport tries to open and help reaches villages, Indonesia shows it can face hard times. The fiery sky is scary, but it also shows people’s courage. For Indians, it’s a reminder to support our neighbors, and for Indonesians, it’s just another day living with volcanoes. One X user said, “#Lewotobi is wild, but Indonesia will bounce back!”
Last Updated on: Thursday, June 19, 2025 12:48 am by Mohammad Hussain Shaik | Published by: Mohammad Hussain Shaik on Thursday, June 19, 2025 12:48 am | News Categories: News