Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in Indonesia Erupts
On Tuesday, June 17, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a volcano in Indonesia, erupted. The volcano is in the “Ring of Fire,” a volcanically active area around the Pacific. No visitors or locals have been killed or injured.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki is one peak of a mountain, having an elevation of around 16,00 meters (5,250 feet). The other peak is Lewotobi Perempuan, but it is currently inactive. Both peaks are located on Flores Island. This volcano is in Indonesia, which is an archipelago, or a group of islands, in the Pacific. The equator runs through two of its islands – Borneo and Sulawesi – but Indonesia is considered part of Asia.
The “Ring of Fire” is known to be tectonically active, which means it is the area right around the Pacific Plate and Pacific Ocean. This is what causes the volcanic activity in the coasts of the countries that border the Pacific.
The volcano Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted on the evening of June 17, 2025. The cloud of ash and smoke rose as high as 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) and could be seen from over 160 kilometers (100 miles) away. The Indonesian government raised a warning to the highest level, Level 4. People had to evacuate at least 8 kilometers (5 miles) away from the volcano.
It is of concern that rain in the region could cause significant damage. The rain can mix with ash to make lahars, dangerous mudflows that are made of debris and volcanic ash.
There’s also the issue of acid rain and water contamination. The ash and volcanic gases, like sulfur dioxide (SO2), can mix with rainwater to make acid rain, potentially damaging plants, animals, and structures. The ash can be brought with the rainwater into water supply areas, meaning that it could contaminate the water supply.
Rainwater can also dissolve, erode, and melt volcanic materials and cause lava flows, heightening the risk of death. These risks caused by rainwater are very high concerns for the region.
The next day, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted again, forming another ash cloud slightly smaller. This ash cloud was 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) high.
The ash has a huge effect on air traffic, which is one of the main ways of transportation of the country. The airport on Flores Island had to be shut down until Thursday. The ash also caused the closing of the airport in Bali, leading to over thirty flights to be cancelled or delayed – domestic and international. This means visitors will be stuck on the island until the ash completely clears.
The most recent and serious eruption came in a series last November, killed nine, and forced thousands to evacuate.
The eruption last Tuesday and Wednesday had temporarily grounded air traffic in the area, meaning tourists have been stuck in Bali and Flores Island, both being popular tourism spots. In Bali alone, over 1000 tourists have been stuck. This has stopped the flights of visitors planning to visit Bali and Flores Island, meaning that visitors have to spend more time on the island when they were supposed to leave a while ago.
While there have been no injuries or deaths, the volcanic activity in this region has left a mark. The smoke and ash will cause breathing issues, if not given attention to. This is a warning about the dangers of volcanic activity next to cities and towns.
Resources:
“Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki Erupts in Indonesia,” News for Kids, June 19, 2025, https://newsforkids.net/articles/2025/06/19/mount-lewotobi-laki-laki-erupts-in-indonesia/
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