Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted explosively on 7 July, propelling a column of ash roughly 18 kilometres (11 miles) into the sky—the volcano’s highest plume since 2023, according to the national volcanology agency. Loud blasts accompanied the eruption, and drones detected lava filling the crater, indicating deep magma movement. Authorities kept the alert at Level IV, the country’s most severe, and ordered residents and tourists to remain outside a 6- to 7-kilometre exclusion zone. The agency warned of further eruptions, possible lava- and rain-triggered lahar flows and pyroclastic avalanches that have already travelled up to 5 kilometres down the slopes. No casualties were immediately reported. Volcanic ash prompted a red aviation notice and fresh flight disruptions. Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport reported dozens of cancellations, including services operated by carriers to and from Australia, while several return flights were diverted mid-route. The latest blast follows a 17–18 June eruption that shot ash about 10 kilometres high and led to the cancellation of more than 30 flights, the diversion of Air India flight AI2145 back to Delhi and the temporary closure of three regional airports, affecting roughly 14,000 passengers. Lewotobi Laki Laki had already killed nine people during an eruption last November and has remained at the highest alert since mid-June. Indonesia straddles the seismically active Pacific “Ring of Fire” and monitors 120 active volcanoes. Lewotobi Laki Laki—one of a twin-peaked system alongside the quieter Lewotobi Perempuan—has now produced two major eruptions within a month, underscoring the ongoing threat to nearby communities and regional air travel.