Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki Erupts Again, Spews 1 km Ash Column

Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), erupted again this evening at 18.22 Central Indonesia Time. The volcano, which is at Level III alert status, spewed a column of ash 1 kilometre above its peak, or 2,584 metres above sea level. “The ash column was observed to be grey with thick intensity, leaning towards the west and northwest,” said Bramantyo Aji Putra Mahendra, an officer at the Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki Observation Post, in a statement on Friday (19/6/2026). “This eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 47.3 millimetres and a duration of approximately 1 minute 19 seconds,” he added. Aji Putra urged residents and tourists not to conduct any activities within a 5-kilometre radius of the eruption centre. The public was also asked to be aware of the potential for rain-triggered cold lava floods in rivers originating at the peak of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki if heavy rain occurs. “Especially the areas of Dulipali, Padang Pasir, Nobo, Nurabelen, Klatanlo, Hokeng Jaya, Boru, and Nawakote,” Aji said. He reminded communities affected by ashfall to wear masks or nose-and-mouth coverings to avoid the dangers of volcanic ash to the respiratory system.