Denpasar: Large eruptions of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province have severely disrupted air travel and posed significant health risks due to the widespread volcanic ash.

According to Namibia Press Agency, several international flights bound for I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali were canceled, while multiple domestic flights faced suspensions. The airport's official website noted that affected international carriers included Malindo Air and Jetstar, which canceled their arrivals, and AirAsia, which rescheduled its flights. Domestically, Wings Air, Lion Air, and Super Jet Air halted operations by closing their boarding gates.

Indonesia's Volcanology and Geology Disaster Mitigation Center reported multiple eruptions from Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, with ash columns soaring up to 18,000 meters into the sky. This prompted a red-level Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation, the highest alert level, effectively prohibiting aircraft from flying below 6,000 meters in the impacted airspace. Pilots were advised to exercise caution due to volcanic ash, which can severely damage aircraft engines and systems.

Richard Felt, a senior official at the provincial Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency, emphasized the agency's preparedness by distributing face masks to residents to avert respiratory issues. "The volcanic ash has reached all parts of the volcano's slopes. We have distributed masks to the people, as the risks are threatening their health," he told Xinhua.

Felt further advised residents to temporarily cease outdoor activities due to the ash's spread in residential areas. "We have asked the residents to halt their activities if not urgent. This is for their safety," he stated. Despite the disruptions, Felt confirmed that all residents had already been evacuated to safe zones following the previous strong eruption.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, standing at 1,584 meters, is one of Indonesia's 127 active volcanoes.