A RED alert has been issued for air traffic after a massive six-mile high ash cloud exploded in the sky from a volcano in Indonesia.
Astonishing footage showed plumes of ash pouring into the sky from Mount Lewotobi.
The Australian government has issued a “red” aviation alert following the unbelievable eruption.
And Japan’s Meteorological Agency has launched an investigation into what the tsunami impact could be due to the explosion.
Terrifying footage taken from a residential area nearby shows a gargantuan plume of grey smoke erupting from the volcano.
Visual observations taken over the last two days saw a significant increase in volcanic activity from Mount Lewotobi.
The volcano monitoring agency of the country has heightened the alert level of the volcano to the most dangerous, cautioning about possible lava flows in case of rainfall.
Volcano Observation Post Officer Yohanes Kolli Sorywutun confirmed the eruption in a statement.
On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 17:35 WITA, Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki experienced an eruption, with an observed ash column reaching a height of 10,000 meters above the peak (11,584 meters above sea level).
Authorities in Indonesia have advised the public and tourists to avoid any activities within a range of 7 kilometers from the volcano and within an 8-kilometer radius in the southwest-northeast sector from the eruption site. It is recommended to stay calm and adhere to the guidance provided by the local government.
In November last year, 10 people died after Mount Lewotobi spewed a fiery column of lava.
Hot ashes hit several villages, burning down houses including a convent of Catholic nuns.
Indonesia sits on the “Pacific Ring of Fire”, an area of high seismic activity atop multiple tectonic plates.
