Bali Flights Resume After Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki Volcano Eruptions
After days of disruption caused by eruptions of the Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province, flight services to and from Bali resumed on Thursday, November 14, 2024. The volcano had sent massive ash plumes up to 10 kilometers into the air, leading to the cancellation of over 160 flights between November 4 and November 13.
Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, the general manager of Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport, reported that 91 flights were canceled on Wednesday alone, marking the highest single-day cancellation. Although services have resumed, 41 flights remain canceled, affecting routes from Singapore, India, Qatar, and Australia.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki’s first eruption on November 3 resulted in nine fatalities, over 2,000 damaged homes, and the evacuation of 13,000 residents. Indonesia, with its 130 active volcanoes, is situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area known for frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka is set to visit affected areas, where he will distribute aid to residents. Airlines such as Virgin Australia, Jetstar, and Qantas have resumed some flights as conditions improve.