BLAST OFF

Volcano’s Giant Eruption Spews Ash 11 Miles Into the Sky After Major Threat Warning

Flights were canceled as villages in the area were coated with ash.

Indonesian volcano Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki dramatically erupted on Monday morning, propelling a huge column of ash 11 miles into the sky and blanketing nearby villages. No casualties have been reported in the eruption, which Indonesia’s Geology Agency has monitored for the last month, with the volcano being on the highest alert level since June 18. However, air traffic in the southern hemisphere has been impacted by the blast, with numerous flights to Australia, New Zealand, China, India, and Malaysia being grounded or heavily delayed. The eruption is the fifth time Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki has erupted over the past 12 months, with dramatic activity also recorded in June, May, March, and November. “An eruption of that size certainly carries a higher potential for danger, including its impact on aviation,” Geology Agency chief Muhammed Wafid told the Associated Press. “We shall reevaluate to enlarge its danger zone that must be cleared of villagers and tourist activities.” Volcanic ash can pose a significant danger to aircraft if sucked into jet engines, melting and later resolidifying inside the craft which can cause significant damage to the engines.