Mount Lewotobi and Lewotolok Erupt Almost Simultaneously, Frans Seda Airport Closed

Two volcanoes in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) erupted almost simultaneously on Monday morning (22/6/2026), causing immediate disruption to the air transport sector after Frans Seda Airport in Maumee, Sikka Regency, was temporarily closed and six flights were cancelled. The two volcanoes that erupted are Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Flores and Mount Ile Lewotolok in Lembata. Both active volcanoes erupted within less than an hour of each other. Head of Frans Seda Maumere Airport, Partahian Panjaitan, stated that airport operations were halted due to the impact of the Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki eruption. ‘Today, 22 June 2026, flight operations at Frans Seda Maumere Airport are temporarily closed until tomorrow at 06.00 WITA,’ Partahian said when confirmed on Monday. As a result of the closure, six flights on the Kupang and Labuan Bajo routes were forced to be cancelled. Despite the two volcanoes erupting on the same morning, three other airports in the surrounding area were confirmed to be operating normally. Wunopito Lewoleba Airport in Lembata and Gewayantana Larantuka Airport showed no indication of being affected by volcanic ash distribution. Conditions were similar at H. Aroeboesman Ende Airport, which remained operational as it was not impacted by volcanic ash from Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, unlike the Sikka Regency area which experienced ashfall. Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted first at around 10.06 WITA with an ash column height reaching 300 metres above the peak. Forty-seven minutes later, Mount Ile Lewotolok also erupted at 10.53 WITA, spewing an ash column 800 metres above its peak. East Flores Regency and Lembata Regency are neighbouring areas, both of which have active volcanoes. Both mountains are still showing volcanic activity.