Indonesia volcano eruption: Mount Lewotobi Erupts Again, Ash Cloud Shuts Flores Airport

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted three times in 24 hours, forcing Frans Seda Airport to close. The Silicon Review reports Indonesia volcano eruption.

Indonesia volcano eruption: Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on Flores Island erupted again on Friday morning, June 5, 2026, at 6:57 AM local time, sending a thick gray ash column 2.5 kilometers (about 8,200 feet) into the sky. The volcano, which has been at Alert Level III (Siaga) since December 2024, has erupted multiple times within a 24-hour period.

The eruption column was observed drifting west and northwest, carried by high-altitude winds. The volcanic ash reached an estimated altitude of 14,000 feet (4,300 meters) above sea level, according to the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre.

Authorities immediately suspended operations at Fransiskus Xaverius Seda Airport in Maumere, located approximately 60 kilometers west of the volcano. The closure affected five domestic flights, leaving 122 passengers stranded. The airport is scheduled to remain closed until Saturday, June 6, 6:00 AM local time.

The volcano's name, Laki-Laki, means "man" in Indonesian. It is paired with a calmer volcano named Perempuan ("woman") nearby. Laki-Laki is the more active of the two.

The mountain has been restless for months. This is not a surprise eruption. It is a pattern. And yet, every time it erupts, the same airports close, the same flights cancel, and the same unprepared communities scramble for safety.

 A five-kilometer exclusion zone remains in force around the crater. Authorities have warned residents near rivers to remain alert for lahar (volcanic mudflows) if heavy rain occurs.

The volcano has a history of disrupting air travel. In July 2025, Lewotobi Laki-Laki spewed an 18-kilometer ash tower, forcing the cancellation of 24 flights at Bali's international airport.

As Mount Lewotobi erupts again and ash forces another airport closure, The Silicon Review examines why Indonesia's aviation system remains vulnerable to a volcano that has been erupting for nearly two years.

Q: How many times did Mount Lewotobi erupt in June 2026?
A: The volcano erupted multiple times within 24 hours on June 4-5, 2026. The largest eruption occurred on Friday, June 5 at 6:57 AM local time, sending ash 2.5 kilometers high.

Q: How high did the volcanic ash cloud reach?
A: The ash plume reached approximately 4,084 meters above sea level (about 2.5 kilometers above the summit) and was detected by satellite at 14,000 feet (4,300 meters).

Q: Which airport was closed due to the Lewotobi eruption?
A: Fransiskus Xaverius Seda Airport in Maumere, Flores Island, was closed on June 5, 2026. It is scheduled to reopen on June 6 at 6:00 AM local time.

Q: How many flights were affected by the airport closure?
A: Five domestic flights were affected, operated by Wings Air and other carriers. Approximately 122 passengers were stranded.

Q: What is the current alert level for Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki?
A: The volcano is at Alert Level III (Siaga), the second-highest alert level. A five-kilometer exclusion zone is in place around the crater.

Q: What is the lahar warning for residents near Mount Lewotobi?
A: Authorities have warned residents living near rivers to remain alert for lahar (volcanic mudflows) if heavy rain occurs. Volcanic material mixed with rainwater can create fast-moving, destructive flows.