Several villages have been covered in ash and debris.
Published Oct 15, 2025 • Last updated 15 minutes ago • 1 minute read
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In a photo released by Indonesia’s Geological Agency (Badan Geologi) under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki is seen erupting and releasing volcanic material in East Flores, Indonesia, on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. Photo by Badan Geologi /AP
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, erupted for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, sending towering columns of hot ash that later covered nearby villages. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far.
Indonesia’s Geology Agency reported that an early morning eruption propelled lava and ash clouds up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) into the sky. Less than nine hours later, another eruption produced a mushroom-shaped ash cloud that reached heights of 8 kilometers (nearly 5 miles).
The active volcano on the remote island of Flores erupted three times on Tuesday. During the morning and midday eruptions, avalanches of searing gas clouds mixed with rocks and lava cascaded down its slopes. The third eruption of the day illuminated the night sky with glowing lava and flashes of lightning.
Hadi Wijaya, head of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation, stated that several villages have been covered in ash and debris. He cautioned residents to remain alert for heavy rainfall, which could trigger lava flows in rivers originating from the volcano.
The 1,584-meter (5,197-foot) mountain has been on the highest alert level since an eruption on June 18, and a 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) exclusion zone has been established around the crater due to the increasing frequency of eruptions. A major eruption in November 2024 resulted in nine fatalities and numerous injuries, and the volcano also erupted in March.
Indonesia, an archipelago with over 280 million residents, experiences frequent seismic activity. It is home to 120 active volcanoes and is situated along the “Ring of Fire,” a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.
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