Several flights cancelled as Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupts in Indonesia
In Indonesia, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted. As a result, many flights to and from Bali were cancelled.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) June 18: According to airport officials, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted on Wednesday which led to a huge column of ash 10 kilometres into the sky, forcing the cancellation of dozens of flights to and from Bali.
One of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, erupted Tuesday night, sending enormous ash plumes more than 10,000 meters into the sky. Authorities issued the highest level of volcano warning and extended the danger zone to an 8-kilometer radius surrounding the crater due to the ash cloud, which could be seen from about 150 km away.
I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali reported that more than 37 flights had been cancelled because of the volcano.
A number of internal AirAsia flights headed for Flores have also been cancelled.
Airport operator Angkasa Pura Indonesia said, “Due to volcano activity of Lewatobi Laki-Laki in East Nusa Tenggara, several flights at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport are cancelled.”
Virgin Australia and Jetstar cancelled flights to a number of Australian cities. The website of Bali's international airport also displayed cancellations from China's Juneyao Airlines, Singapore's Tigerair, Air India, and Air New Zealand, all "due to volcano."
Reports of a volcanic eruption near Bali airport caused Air India to request that its plane from Delhi to Bali (AI2145) return to Delhi. The decision was made with the safety of the passengers in mind. All of the passengers were safely evacuated from the plane as the airplane made a successful return to Delhi.
An Air India official said, "Inconvenience caused to passengers is sincerely regretted and every effort has been made to minimise it by providing hotel accommodation to the affected passengers. Full refunds on cancellation or complimentary rescheduling has also been offered to them if opted."
The Geology Agency of Indonesia issued a warning to residents and visitors to be on alert for possible lava flows caused by intense rainfall.
No casualty reports have been received. The highest alert level has been upgraded by authorities and locals are being told to refrain from any activity within a 7-kilometer radius of the crater.
Aadrika Tayal
