In the early hours of October 15, 2025, the usually quiet dawn on Indonesia’s Flores Island was shattered by the thunderous roar of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki. The volcano, one of the nation’s most active, erupted twice in dramatic fashion, sending columns of ash and lava skyward and blanketing nearby villages in a thick, gray haze. The first eruption struck at 1:35 a.m. local time, lasting nine minutes and launching volcanic material as high as 10 kilometers (about six miles) above the crater, according to Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), as reported by multiple outlets including Noticiero El Salvador and The Independent.
Less than nine hours later, a second powerful blast sent a distinctive mushroom-shaped ash cloud soaring nearly five miles into the atmosphere, turning the sky an ominous shade and further alarming residents and authorities. The eruptions were accompanied by loud bangs, and in the aftermath, the landscape was transformed: several villages found themselves coated in ash and debris, with the air thick enough to prompt warnings for people to cover their noses and mouths to avoid breathing in the fine particles.
Authorities wasted no time responding to the escalating crisis. Indonesia’s Geological Agency, led by Muhammad Wafid, quickly raised the volcano’s emergency alert to its highest level. Wafid cautioned, “People living near the volcano should be aware of the potential volcanic mudflow if heavy rain occurs,” a concern echoed in official advisories urging residents and visitors to stay at least six to seven kilometers (about four miles) from the volcano. The exclusion zone, first set in June after an earlier eruption, was reaffirmed as a critical safety buffer.
The immediate impact extended beyond the danger zone. The Fransiskus Xaverius Seda Airport in Maumere, situated about 60 kilometers (37 miles) west of the volcano, was forced to suspend operations until at least October 16, disrupting domestic air travel across the region. While major airports in Jakarta and Bali remained open, airlines kept a close watch on the ash plume, wary of the possibility that a shift in wind could ground flights at these busy hubs, as it did during a previous eruption in July 2025 that led to 24 cancellations at Bali’s international airport, according to Daily Mail and Al Jazeera.
The October 15 eruptions were not isolated events. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, standing at 1,584 meters (5,197 feet), forms part of the Lewotobi twin volcanoes and has a long, turbulent history. The volcano has been at its highest alert level since June 18, 2025, after an increase in deep volcanic earthquakes—a classic precursor to explosive activity—prompted authorities to warn of imminent danger. In the lead-up to the October eruptions, the volcano had already erupted three times on October 14, with avalanches of searing gas, rocks, and lava tumbling down its slopes. The third eruption that day lit up the night sky with glowing lava and flashes of volcanic lightning, as described by Hadi Wijaya, head of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation.
The risk to human life and property is all too real. In November 2024, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki unleashed a major eruption that killed nine people and injured dozens, while thousands of homes were damaged. As The Independent and Al Jazeera reported, the memory of that tragedy remains fresh for local communities, fueling a sense of urgency in current evacuation and disaster mitigation efforts. In June 2025, another eruption forced the cancellation of more than 30 flights to and from the resort island of Bali, underscoring the volcano’s disruptive reach.
Despite the severity of the latest eruptions, no casualties or significant property damage were immediately reported on October 15. However, the threat of volcanic mudflows—known locally as lahar—remains a major concern, especially if heavy rains follow. Authorities have warned that rivers originating from the volcano could become conduits for fast-moving, debris-laden floods capable of destroying everything in their path. Residents in the exclusion zone have been urged to prepare for possible evacuation, and local officials like Avelina Manggota Hallan from the disaster mitigation agency have been coordinating efforts to keep villagers safe and informed.
Indonesia’s vulnerability to such disasters is rooted in its geography. The country is an archipelago of more than 280 million people, straddling the Pacific “Ring of Fire”—a 25,000-mile horseshoe-shaped zone notorious for its intense seismic and volcanic activity. With over 400 volcanoes, at least 129 of which are active and 65 classified as dangerous, Indonesia experiences frequent eruptions and earthquakes. The Ring of Fire stretches from Russia and Japan in the west, through Southeast Asia, and across the Pacific to the Americas and Antarctica. It’s a vast, interconnected system where a major event in one region can trigger alerts and ripple effects across continents.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki’s recent behavior is part of a broader pattern of increasing activity. The volcano has erupted repeatedly in recent years, with significant events in 2023, 2024, and throughout 2025. Its history stretches back even further: a notable eruption in 1932–33 involved lava dome formation and pyroclastic flows, foreshadowing the kind of activity seen today. The volcano’s twin, Lewotobi Perempuan, also contributes to the region’s seismic profile, forming the Lewotobi twin complex within the Sunda Volcanic Arc.
The broader context of Indonesia’s volcanic landscape is sobering. In December 2023, the Merapi volcano on Sumatra erupted, killing 23 people and serving as a grim reminder of the potential for catastrophe. The country endures around 7,000 earthquakes annually, most of moderate magnitude but some with devastating consequences. The government’s response systems—ranging from early warning alerts to evacuation drills—are constantly tested by the frequency and unpredictability of these natural hazards.
For now, the situation around Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki remains tense but under control. Authorities continue to monitor the volcano’s activity, ready to issue further warnings or order evacuations if conditions worsen. The public has been urged to remain calm, heed official instructions, and “not believe issues from unclear sources,” as the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation emphasized in its latest alert notice.
As the ash settles and the world’s attention turns to the next headline, the people of Flores Island know that life in the shadow of a volcano means living with uncertainty. For them, vigilance is not just a precaution—it’s a way of life shaped by the ever-present rumble beneath their feet.