Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted on July 7, spewing volcanic ash up to 18km into the sky and triggering flight cancellations across the region, social media channels showed on July 7.

The eruption occurred at 11:05am local time on the tourist island of Flores, producing what Indonesia's volcanology agency described as an "explosive eruption" accompanied by strong booming sounds and hot clouds extending up to 5km north and northeast of the summit.

Muhammad Wafid, head of Indonesia's geology agency, said the activity level at the volcano is "very high, marked by explosive eruptions and continuous tremors." He urged residents to stay at least 6km away from the volcano and wear face masks to protect against volcanic ash.

The eruption forced evacuation of dozens of residents from nearby villages and prompted cancellation of several flights between Australia and Bali. Affected carriers include Qantas and Virgin Australia, with further delays possible depending on ash cloud movement.

Authorities advised travellers to or from Bali, Lombok, Labuan Bajo or elsewhere in West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara provinces to contact airlines directly regarding flight statuses and airport operations. Those facing potential visa overstay issues due to travel delays should contact the nearest immigration office for extensions.

Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport remained operational despite the eruption, according to airport operator InJourney Airports. However, volcanic ash rained down on several communities around the volcano, forcing evacuation of at least one village.

The volcanology agency warned of potential hazardous lahar floods, which pose extreme danger to nearby communities if heavy rain occurs. These mixtures of water and rock fragments flow down volcanic slopes and typically enter river valleys.

Indonesia sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire with 120 active volcanoes, positioned at the boundary of three major tectonic plates making it prone to seismic activity. The archipelago nation of more than 280mn people experiences frequent volcanic and earthquake activity.

Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki has remained active for several months, with June eruptions also cancelling dozens of Bali flights. The volcano erupted multiple times in November 2024, killing nine people and forcing thousands to evacuate whilst cancelling scores of international flights.