Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki spews 11km-high ash cloud after eruption
Lewotobi Laki-laki's last eruption was in May 18 when authorities also raised the level to the most severe. PHOTO: AFP
JAKARTA - Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province erupted on June 17, spewing a towering ash cloud 11km high, the country's volcanology agency said.
The agency also said it had raised the alert level of the volcano to the most dangerous, warning of potential lava flows if it heavily rains.
Lewotobi Laki-laki's last eruption was in May when the authorities also raised the level to the most severe.
Images shared by the agency on June 17 showed an orange ash cloud in the shape of a mushroom engulfing a nearby village.
It is not immediately clear if there have been flight disruptions. When Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted in March, airlines were forced to cancel and delay flights into Bali, including Australia's Jetstar and Qantas Airways.
Indonesia's search and rescue agency, as well as its disaster mitigation agency, which oversees evacuation, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Indonesia sits on the 'Pacific Ring of Fire', an area of high seismic activity atop multiple tectonic plates. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Airlines to bring stranded Israelis back home, no outward flights
Israel's flag carrier El Al expects to operate flights into Israel on June 18 from Larnaca, Athens, Rome, Milan and Paris. PHOTO: REUTERS TEL AVIV - Israel's airlines said on June 17 that they had received government permission to start flights to bring back people who had been stranded abroad during the conflict with Iran. Israel's airspace has been closed since Israel and Iran began trading attacks on June 13, stranding tens of thousands whose flights to Tel Aviv were cancelled. El Al Airlines, Israel's flag carrier, said it expects to operate flights on June 18 from Larnaca, Athens, Rome, Milan and Paris to bring anyone who had a cancelled El Al ticket to Israel. There would still be no passenger flights leaving Israel, it added. El Al has cancelled all scheduled flights through June 23. 'We understand the difficulty, uncertainty and stress experienced by El Al customers abroad who are seeking to return to Israel, as well as those whose travel plans were disrupted,' it said. "The rescue flights will be operated gradually, and therefore patience is required from El Al customers abroad. We recommend preparing for extended stays and lodging arrangements." Smaller rival Arkia said it would bring back Israelis from Karpathos in Greece, Larnaca in Cyprus and Tivat in Montenegro. 'Arkia is prepared to operate during any time window approved by the security authorities, including Fridays and Saturdays, and is working with authorities to explore expanding the rescue operation,' it said. Israir said it would operate three flights for Israelis from Larnaca and Athens and from Varna in Bulgaria on June 18, and hoped to offer more soon. It has cancelled both foreign and domestic flights up to June 30. Israel's Transportation Ministry has said there are as many as 150,000 Israelis abroad, around 50,000 of them seeking to return to Israel. El Al said that within 90 minutes of opening a portal for passengers seeking to fly home, more than 60,000 people joined an electronic queue to register. Cruise operator Mano Maritime, whose 'Crown Iris' ship carries 2,000 passengers, said it would make two crossings from Cyprus to Israel's Mediterranean port city of Haifa. Large numbers have converged on Cyprus, the European Union member state closest to Israel. Flights from the coastal city of Larnaca to Tel Aviv take 50 minutes, and boat crossings to the Haifa take about 15 hours. Foreign carriers have often cancelled flights during Israel's war against Hamas militants in Gaza, leaving El Al, Arkia and Israir to fill the gap for travellers. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
As war rages, anxious Iranians seek way home from Istanbul
Some Iranians have been stranded abroad and are trying to get home to their loved ones, despite the ongoing air strikes. PHOTO: REUTERS – Dozens of worried Iranians huddled in the shade of an Istanbul bus shelter on June 17 , waiting for a bus to take them back home, despite an intensifying air war between Iran and Israel. Flights to Iran were suspended on June 13 after Israel launched a devastating attack on Tehran's nuclear facilities, sparking a deadly confrontation, which is now in its fifth day. Although many have fled the Israeli bombardments of Tehran, other Iranians have been stranded abroad and are trying to get home to their loved ones, despite the ongoing air strikes. 'I want to look after my parents, they're afraid,' said Mr Babak Alpor, 34, who flew from Tehran to Istanbul to visit his brother who is studying in Turkey's largest city. Horrified by the images of the bombings, Mr Alpor decided to cut short his trip and go home to his parents, despite his mother begging him to stay with his brother. But with all flights cancelled, he was forced to find another way home – a one-way bus trip back to the Iranian capital that will take 38 hours and cost him 5,000 Turkish lira (S$160). 'I'm not scared, but of course I'm sad. Nobody likes war,' he told AFP. Next to him, a group of women were talking quietly in Persian. 'They're saying they are afraid and don't want to go back,' he explained. Turkey is a popular destination for tourists from neighbouring Iran, with 460,000 of them visiting in the first two months of the year, official figures show. Crying and crying Elsewhere, an Iranian student hugged her mother and younger sister goodbye as they boarded the bus for Tehran, the anxiety plain on her face as it pulled away. Her mother was afraid but decided to go back to be with another daughter who was stuck in Tehran and very frightened, explained the physiotherapy student who did not want to give her name. 'My other sister who stayed in Iran is just crying and crying,' she said. Overnight, US President Donald Trump urged Tehran's nearly 10 million residents to leave 'immediately', his words echoing warnings from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite the warnings, some travellers were trying to put on a brave face. 'It will be over soon, I think it will last a maximum of two or three weeks,' said Mr Fahim, an Iranian tourist in his 40s who was visiting Istanbul with his wife and two little girls. Although they will pass through Tehran, their bus journey of 2,700km will end in Sari, a town five hours north-east of the capital. 'Where we live, everything is OK,' he said in a show of confidence aimed at reassuring his young family. 'Peace is coming.' But others know the cost of the conflict will be high. 'We have bad people running the country who have been there for far too long,' said another young passenger who did not give his name. 'It will take at least 10 years to rebuild what has been destroyed in this war.' AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
Bomb threat forces Saudia plane to make emergency landing in Indonesia
The plane was carrying 442 hajj pilgrims from Jeddah to Jakarta. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: PIXABAY Bomb threat forces Saudia plane to make emergency landing in Indonesia JAKARTA - A Saudia Airlines plane carrying hajj pilgrims home made an emergency landing in Indonesia on June 17 after a bomb threat, police and the carrier said, with all passengers evacuated. The plane, carrying 442 hajj pilgrims from Jeddah to Jakarta, landed mid-morning in North Sumatra province due to the emailed threat, Indonesia's Transport Ministry said. Police were searching through luggage after checking the aircraft, said North Sumatra police chief Whisnu Hermawan. Saudia, which is Saudi Arabia's flagship carrier, said alternative onward travel arrangements were being made. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
