DENPASAR, BALI — Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali experienced operational disruptions on Tuesday (June 17) following the powerful eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). A total of 87 domestic and international flights were canceled after the volcano spewed a towering ash column reaching 11,584 meters above sea level.

According to Indonesia’s Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG), the eruption occurred at 5:35 p.m. WITA and was recorded on seismographs with a maximum amplitude of 47.3 mm, lasting approximately 6 minutes and 53 seconds. The eruption was accompanied by pyroclastic flows and ash dispersal in multiple directions. Authorities raised the alert level to Level IV (Awas)—the highest in the national volcanic alert system.

Ngurah Rai Airport, the main gateway to Bali, was directly impacted as airlines adjusted flight operations due to the spread of volcanic ash in the region. According to the airport’s Communication and Legal Division Head, Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi, 87 flights were canceled, comprising 66 international and 21 domestic routes.

The international cancellations involved both arrivals and departures to cities including Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Ho Chi Minh City. Domestic routes affected included Jakarta (Cengkareng), Labuan Bajo, and Tambolaka.

“Based on a paper test conducted at 3:00 p.m. WITA, no volcanic ash was detected over the Ngurah Rai Airport area. However, several airlines chose to cancel or delay flights as a precautionary measure,” Asmadi said in a statement on Wednesday (June 18).

Meanwhile, the situation around Mount Lewotobi remains tense. Residents in several villages in Wulanggitang Subdistrict—such as Pululera, Waiula, Hewa, Pantai Oa, and Ojan Detun—were caught off guard as ash, sand, and volcanic gravel rained down on their communities. Villages near the slopes of the volcano were quickly blanketed in darkness due to the thick ash cloud.

“People panicked—some tried to run but were trapped by the ash and rocks,” said Arsen Wepi, a resident of Hewa village.

Some residents of Waiula village have reportedly evacuated to Riang Baring in the neighboring Ile Bura Subdistrict. However, emergency officials note that the location lacks an alternative evacuation route in case of escalation.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Social Affairs has yet to receive official data on evacuees. “As of this morning, there are no confirmed reports of displaced persons,” said Social Affairs Minister Syaifullah Yusuf, also known as Gus Ipul. He noted, however, that the situation is dynamic and may change.

In anticipation of further developments, the ministry has established seven public kitchens and delivered logistics support worth nearly IDR 5 billion (approx. USD 300,000) to affected communities. “If evacuation shelters are needed, we are ready to provide them,” the minister said.