Wings Air Kupang-Lewoleba Flights Cancelled Due to Ile Lewotolok Eruption

Wunopito Airport in Lewoleba, Lembata Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, was affected by volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Ile Lewotolok on Tuesday (11/8/2026). The incident led to the cancellation of Wings Air flights on the Kupang–Lewoleba route.

“Today’s flights are cancelled due to the eruption of Mount Ile Lewotolok,” said Mikael Hire Wake, Head of the Administrative Team at Wunopito Airport, when contacted by detikBali on Tuesday.

Yeremias Kristianto Pugel, an officer at the Mount Ile Lewotolok Observation Post, said the volcano, which is at Alert Level II, erupted at around 07:11 Wita with an ash column reaching approximately 500 metres above the summit.

“The eruption was recorded on the seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 40 millimetres and a duration of 1 minute 11 seconds,” Yeremias said in a statement.

Yeremias noted that a rumbling sound of moderate intensity was heard during the eruption. He urged residents living near Mount Ile Lewotolok, as well as visitors, climbers and tourists, not to enter or conduct activities within a 2 km radius of the volcano’s active centre.

“Be aware of the potential threat of lava avalanches and pyroclastic flows on the southern, southeastern, western and northeastern sectors of Mount Ile Lewotolok,” he added.

Yeremias also advised people in the vicinity of Mount Ile Lewotolok to wear masks covering the mouth and nose, along with other protective equipment for the eyes and skin, to avoid respiratory infections and other health problems.

“In addition, cover clean water storage containers to protect them from volcanic ash exposure,” he concluded.