Indonesian volcano erupts with 63,000 ft toxic ash cloud
The cloud has deposited ash on villages, forcing the evacuation of dozens of residents and cancelling several flights. Volcanic clouds are made up of fine fragments of rock, mineral crystals, volcanic glass and gas, which is mostly harmless water vapor. However, significant amounts of potentially hazardous gases can be released too, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide.
Muhammad Wafid, head of Indonesia's geology agency, said the activity level at the volcano is 'very high, marked by explosive eruptions and continuous tremors'. He also urged residents to stay at least 3.7 miles (6 km) away from the volcano and to wear face masks to protect themselves from volcanic ash. Lewotobi is a twin volcano in the southeastern part of the island of Flores, Indonesia with two peaks, called Lewotobi Laki-laki ('male') and Lewotobi Perempuan ('female').
Lewotobi Laki-laki, which is the more active of the two, is about 1.3 miles (2.1 km) northwest of the taller Lewotobi Perempuan. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted on Monday at 11:05 am local time (03:05 GMT), Indonesia's volcanology agency said in a statement. 'An eruption of Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano occurred... with the observed ash column height reaching approximately 18,000 m above the summit,' the agency said.
'This eruption was accompanied by a strong booming sound and hot clouds with a maximum glide distance of 5 km [3 miles] to the north and northeast.' Fortunately, there have been no immediate reports of damage or casualties. But the agency warned of the possibility of hazardous lahar floods, which are known to be extremely destructive and deadly if heavy rain occurs.
This mixture of water and rock fragments flows down the slopes of a volcano and typically enters a river valley, which poses a hazard for nearby communities. Several flights from Australia to Bali, a province of Indonesia and a popular tourist destination for Australians, have been cancelled, ABC reports. Affected carriers include Qantas and Virgin Australia and further delays on Tuesday are possible depending on the movement of the ash cloud through the night, it adds.
A customer service agent of airport operator InJourney Airports told AFP that Bali's Ngurah Rai international airport was still operating normally despite the eruption, but Indonesia's transport ministry and airport operator did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Activity has been ongoing at Lewotobi Laki-laki for the last few months; in June, dozens of flights to and from Bali were cancelled after the volcano erupted.
Volcanic ash rained down on several communities around the volcano and forced the evacuation of at least one village. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted multiple times in November, killing nine people and forcing thousands to evacuate, as well as the cancellation of scores of international flights to Bali. Monday's eruption was one of Indonesia's largest volcano eruptions since 2010 when Mount Merapi, the country's most volatile volcano, erupted on the densely populated island of Java.
The eruption 15 years ago killed 353 people and forced over 350,000 people to evacuate the affected areas. Indonesia, north of Australia, is a vast archipelago nation of more than 280 million people with frequent seismic activity. It is positioned at the boundary of three major tectonic plates – Indian-Australian, Eurasian and Pacific – making it prone to earthquakes.
It has 120 active volcanoes and sits along the 'Ring of Fire', a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin. Somewhere between 80 to 90 per cent of the world's earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire, which also spans the eastern US coast, Japan and New Zealand.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Greece battles wildfires across country, evacuates villages
DROSOPIGI, Greece July 26 (Reuters) - Firefighters were battling wildfires near Athens and across Greece on Saturday as the Mediterranean country sweltered under the third heatwave of the summer, with some villages and settlements being evacuated. Explosions could be heard as huge clouds of smoke covered Drosopigi village 25 km north of Athens, where factories with flammable material are located. Helicopters dropped water and 65 firefighters battled the flames, assisted by 26 vehicles and two aircraft. Two houses caught fire, according to state ERT television, while residents of nearby village Krioneri were instructed by authorities to leave towards Athens. Temperatures in Greece were forecast to reach up to 44 degrees Celsius on Saturday, the Greek weather service said. On the island of Evia, 115 firefighters and 24 vehicles were deployed to put out fires, assisted by six aircraft and seven helicopters, but strong winds were hampering their efforts. Residents of the island's Triada area were told to be ready in case they needed to leave. The fire on Evia is the latest in a series of bushfires stoked by strong winds and dry conditions this month. On the island of Kythera, authorities evacuated the villages of Aroniadika, Pitsinades and Aryoi. In the area of Messinia, west of Athens, residents of the Kryoneri and Sellas villages were also told to leave. These sites were on a list of Greek regions on high alert for wildfires due to record-breaking temperatures and strong winds due on Saturday. Tourism is a key earner in Greece, and the fires have hit since the start of the peak summer holiday season early in July. Greece and other Mediterranean countries are in an area dubbed "a wildfire hotspot" by scientists, with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate, prompting calls for a new approach.
The Independent
11 hours ago
- The Independent
There is a Bali beyond influencer's Instagram reels – and it's far more beautiful
'It's like the Costa del Sol for Australians. You'll hate it.' The response from my friend who lived in Sydney when I told her I was going to Bali was not positive. And to be honest, I wasn't particularly surprised. While I had once dreamed of surfing Bali's legendary breaks and hiking among the island's breathtaking volcanoes, it had steadily slipped down my list of destinations to visit. And it seems that Bali could be losing its sheen for influencers, too. Molly Mae's sister Zoe Rae left the island after just a couple days because it didn't live up to what she saw on Instagram. This was followed by a series of writers, bloggers and journalists jumping in to say that they too had been shocked to see this island presented behind a sheen of social media filters was not, in fact, just sipping smoothies in chic cafes, swings over rice fields and infinity pools spilling onto glorious golden beaches. But should we really be all that surprised? This is an island overwhelmed by the number of visitors who have poured in, attracted by its staggering natural beauty, spirituality and hospitality. Without an effective plan to control the surge in tourists, the island has struggled to keep up with the sheer volume, putting a strain on infrastructure, including water supply, waste management and roads. While an economic blessing for some, tourism has been a nightmare for others – drawing local people away from their homes to the visitor hotspots and creating a sense of resentment thanks to several high profile incidents of culturally insensitive tourists disrespecting traditional values and religion. This was something I felt as I travelled through Bali myself last November. The heart-aching beauty of watching the sun rise over Mount Batur was somewhat tempered by the hundreds of other tourists who had the same idea that morning; the party-like atmosphere, the plastic bottles that littered the trails, and the buzz of a drone flying overhead. The streets of Ubud were choked with traffic, and during my morning run through Denpasar I kicked aside rusted beer cans and broken flip-flops while tourists ate avocado toast in hotels along the promenade. So I ditched the beaches, and headed up into the hills. I was travelling with the travel company Intrepid, which is working with the local communities in Sibetan Village – a rural region on the east of the island that's home to around 10,000 people – to create a responsible form of tourism. Ravindra Singh Shekhawat, Intrepid's general manager for Indonesia, explains to me that this type of trip allows travellers to see a whole new side of Bali while also supporting those who live there. He explains: 'Bali is a lot more than its beaches and tourist hotspots, and by staying with local families in Sibetan our travellers can really immerse themselves in Balinese culture and life. They're also directly supporting community-based tourism that creates jobs and sustains the local economy. 'It's not only a more meaningful way to experience Bali but has a positive impact on a local community too.' Homestays mean that the village is not encouraged to build hotels or bring in chain restaurants or shops, which allows the community to maintain their way of life. We wound our way through the mountain roads to the small sub village of Banjar Dinas Dukuh in Sibetan, which is best known for farming salak, a fruit with a distinctive snakeskin texture that's both sweet and acidic. Sibetan previously relied solely on farming for an income, and the population declined steeply as young people moved away to seek opportunities in the tourism industry. This was often in hotels on more developed parts of the island, and sometimes on cruise ships. The arrival of Intrepid's community project in 2023 has encouraged more people to stay in the village. They can now find jobs with a sustainable income by hosting, guiding and organising the tours. We arrive at the community hall in the centre of the village. While walking through the streets, dogs trot along beside us, while local people poke their heads out from their homes and greet our small group. The night is spent at the home of Ni Nengah Armini (Nengah) and I Komang Ada Saputra (Komang), along with their teenage daughter and multiple dogs and cats who mill around in the yard as we arrive. The rooms are simple but spotlessly clean, with crisp white sheets, powerful fans and remarkably strong wifi. This is a quiet village, but there's plenty for tourists to do during a short stay. Local tour guides I Wayan Septiawan (Wayan) and I Gede Aditya Permana Putra (Adit) show us around; we see the temple (guests are asked to respect local traditions and not to go inside), receive a lesson on traditional Balinese Gamelon instruments, have a go at basket weaving with some of the local women, and visit the salak plantation, which has been the lifeblood of the community for generations. Food is simple, fresh and prepared by local people: Wayan and Adit gleefully show us the selection of (rather strong) salak fruit wine made in the village. Made Sukman is part of the team who organises these visits to Sibetan. He grew up in the village but tells me that he initially moved away to work in hotels and on cruise ships, before returning to work for Intrepid. He explains how the income generated is shared among the community; although there are just eight host families, there are 121 families in the village, and the project has been designed to benefit them all. Among other things, the tourism revenue has been used to bring a dance teacher to the local school and to set up a plastic recycling programme. That night, after dinner at a local restaurant just outside the village, I stand on Pemukuran Hill and look out over the lush green canopy that stretches to the ocean in the distance. Down there is where you might find the Bali of TikiTok and Instagram – with the infinity pools, yoga studios and beauty salons; where influencers pose by Buddha statues, order iced matcha lattes and film reels of themselves at bougie brunches. But up here in Sibetan Village, it feels a world away. Admittedly, this isn't the sort of travel that would suit everyone. Zoe Rae's sister would undoubtedly baulk at the lack of AC, the steep climb from the house into the village, and the cockerel who acted as a (very) early alarm call. But maybe this is the real beauty of Bali, and it's about time that we start looking at this enchanting island in a different way. Beyond the beaches, there's a whole other Bali worth visiting – and I believe it's far better. Annabel was travelling in Bali as a guest of Intrepid Travel.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Telegraph
The 10 best beaches in Bali
With more than 400 miles of coastline, Bali has a beach to suit every taste. You might be coming to surf, snorkel or dive. Perhaps you favour lively beaches that pair tropical cocktails with hypnotic people-watching. You could stroll along a paved promenade browsing souvenir and craft shops or explore mangrove-fringed beaches in the company of herds of wild deer and kingfishers. Given Bali's reputation for over-development and overcrowding, it would surprise most visitors (and even a few islanders) to learn that in West Bali you can still walk for many miles along a volcanic sand beach that is lined with an almost unbroken expanse of swaying coconut palms. All our recommendations below have been hand-selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best beaches in Bali. Find out more below, or for more Bali inspiration, see our guides for the best hotels, restaurants, bars and nightlife, and things to do. Find beaches by type: Best beaches for peaceful escapes Pantai Yeh Leh, West Bali If you imagined that Balinese beaches are perpetually packed with parasols, sun loungers and hawkers, think again. Pantai Yeh Leh's virtually deserted, coconut-fringed volcanic sand rarely sees more than a couple of local fishermen or a strolling expat. On Sunday afternoons, local teenagers sometimes race their scooters across the acres of mirror-like sand, but in general, you'll often have the beach to yourself. Surfers who complain about 'overcrowded' Bali should check out this un-surfed beachbreak. Insider tip: Drop into Puri Dajuma Beach Eco-Resort for lunch and then take a soak in the rock pools that are like natural jacuzzis out front. How to get there: You'll need your own transport or to hire a driver Jungutbatu Beach, Nusa Lembongan Given that it's about a dozen miles as the crow flies from Bali's capital, Jungutbatu Beach, on neighbouring Nusa Lembongan island, is a delightfully low-key town beach that has everything you could wish for from a relaxing holiday destination. It is unique in the area as it combines both a highly respected reef-break for surfing and world-class diving reefs – elsewhere in Bali, you have to choose between one or the other. Jungutbatu also has a range of hospitable homestays and friendly beach bars. Insider tip: Ask at EDDY Surfboard Hire for a boatman to take you out to the surfing or snorkelling spots that lie about a quarter-mile offshore. Return to index Best beaches for surfing Uluwatu, Bukit Peninsula Uluwatu is one of the most famous surfing waves on the planet. The left-hand wave here is so long that it actually consists of five different breaks – Temples, The Bombie, Outside Corner, The Peak and Racetracks. Waves up to an awe-inspiring (and frankly terrifying) 40ft have been seen at Uluwatu. Yet even at a more manageable size, Uluwatu is not for the faint-hearted. At 6ft and under, you'll find a crowded lineup with surfers scrabbling for that once-in-a-lifetime boast: 'I surfed Uluwatu.' Insider tip: There are three staircases leading into the famous Uluwatu cave (access to the surf), but be aware that only the third staircase stays dry at high tide. How to get there: Hire a surf instructor to get you to the break and to show you the best spot to suit your ability. Balian Beach, West Bali Balian is a rivermouth break, just far enough out into virtually unknown West Bali to avoid the crowds. Conditions are consistent and, unlike the razor-sharp rocks at nearby Medewi, the sandy bottom, with both rights and lefts, is forgiving enough to make this a good spot for learning. A drawback comes when the rainy season turns the river mouth muddy and lures the occasional bull shark. In general, though, Balian is a blissfully relaxed spot that attracts a loyal surfing community year-round. Insider tip: Pondok Pitaya, a resort right on the beach in Balian, is the ideal place to combine yoga and surfing. How to get there: You'll need your own transport or to hire a driver. Balangan Beach, Bukit Peninsula An unexpectedly low-key beach-bumming vibe somehow survives at Balangan Beach on the rapidly developing Bukit Peninsula. The stilted warung (eateries) here still retain their Indonesian character, while some even have rooms overlooking the surf. Balangan is known as a swell magnet, so you're almost always guaranteed a wave here. Only on really big swells does it get heavy and barrelling, so, although it's a fast wave, it can appeal to surfers of all levels. Insider tip: Balangan is surfable at all tides, but consider taking reef booties at low tide since you need to cross an expanse of sharp rocks. How to get there: The Bukit, with its infamous traffic jams, is best accessed on a rented scooter. Hire a driver if you are not a confident rider. Keramas, East Bali Indonesia is known for its left-handed breaks, but Keramas, on Bali's south-east coast, is a world-class right-hander that barrels over a shallow reef. The spot's fame grew when it was integrated on the international surfing circuit, and these days the break can see quite intense crowds of very talented local and travelling surfers. Dawn raids or sunset sessions are the best way to avoid the crowds. The shallow reef and heavy, hollow wave makes Keramas unsuitable for learners. Insider tip: Hotel Komune has installed spotlights, making Keramas one of the few places you can surf at night (by advance booking only). How to get there: You'll need your own transport or to hire a driver but there are several resorts and homestays within just a short walk of the break. Best beaches for families Sanur Beach, South Bali There's always something happening along the three-mile-plus stretch of Sanur Beach. The well-paved, tree-shaded promenade connects Bali's most appealing stretch of beachfront cafés, cocktail bars and resorts, and has surprisingly peaceful sections of white-sand beach. Man-made breakwaters and a natural barrier reef keep the waves at bay, making it ideal for children. There's also a great range of watersports equipment available for hire, from kayaks and SUPs to kite-surfing and snorkelling gear. Insider tip: There's no shortage of bicycles for rent and dedicated cycle paths on the promenade offer an appealing way to explore this stretch of coast. How to get there: Just 30 minutes by taxi from the airport. Padma Beach, South Bali More colourful and less rundown than Kuta Beach, Padma is part of the seemingly endless arc of white sand that stretches from the airport westwards to Canggu and beyond. Padma, a fascinating piece of street theatre at any time of the day, really comes into its own shortly before sunset when thousands of colourful beanbags are hauled onto the sand and barbecues are fired up. Kids love the frenetic atmosphere, fresh juices and, of course, es krim (ice cream). Insider tip: A cacophonic army of musicians begins to compete with each other as the evening progresses, making this one of the most appealing places you'll ever visit for live music. How to get there: 20 minutes from the airport by taxi. Return to index Best beaches for snorkelling Amed, East Bali With a range of countless dive sites stretched along seven miles of coastline, Amed is one of Bali's most popular dive towns. The spot known as Pyramids, just off Amed's shore, is famous for regular sightings of hawksbill and green turtles, but everywhere you go, the sea life is incredible. Good dive sites are accessible directly from the beaches but sail-rigged jukung (outriggers) can ferry you to several wreck-diving spots. Lipah Beach is a sheltered bay that tends to escape the currents. Insider tip: You can hire diving equipment and join a class through one of the dozens of Amed homestays. Pemuteran, North Bali This little town, on Bali's tranquil north coast, is an inexplicably underrated holiday destination. It has a range of affordable resorts and a tree-shaded beach that lends itself to sunbathing. Best of all, the coral reefs – both natural and rehabilitated – lie just a few metres offshore. Marine life is sometimes unexpected, to say the least; on a hot afternoon, you'll sometimes see the resident monkeys at Goa Tirta Sunia Temple swimming in the ocean. Insider tip: A less than half-hour drive west from Pemuteran will bring you to Labuhan Lalang. From here, you can arrange boat transfers to the reefs around Menjangan Island. How to get there: You'll need your own transport or to hire a driver. Return to index How we choose Every beach in this curated list has been expertly chosen by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of areas and styles, from popular city beaches to lesser-known corners, to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up-to-date recommendations. About our expert Mark Eveleigh I first fell in love with West Bali during a surf trip 25 years ago. Since then, I've returned at every opportunity and, whenever I'm not on assignment, I write from a bamboo and thatch house in the West Balinese village of Pekutatan.
