High-level eruption at Lewotobi volcano, Indonesia
A high-level eruption occurred at Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano on Flores Island, Indonesia, at 23:37 WITA (15:37 UTC) on October 14, 2025, producing an ash column rising to 13 700 m (44 500 feet) above sea level. The Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) raised the Aviation Color Code to Red after Himawari-8 satellite imagery confirmed ash extending northwest at approximately 28 km/h (17 mph).
Eruption at Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano on October 14, 2025. Credit: PVMBG-BG-KE SDM
According to the Darwin VAAC advisory issued at 16:40 UTC, volcanic ash from Lewotobi Laki-laki was observed at 13 700 m (44 500 feet) above sea level.. The advisory noted a dense ash plume drifting northwest at about 28 km/h (17 mph).
Observations from MAGMA Indonesia (PVMBG) show multiple eruptive events during the day. The most significant occurred at 23:37 WITA (15:37 UTC), when a dense gray ash column rose approximately 9 000 m above the summit (10 584 m a.s.l.) and moved toward the southwest, west, and northwest.
The event was recorded on seismographs with a maximum amplitude of 47.3 mm and a duration of 245 seconds.
Earlier activity included an eruption at 00:39 WITA (16:39 UTC, October 13) that generated a 1 000 m (3 300 feet) high ash column moving to the southwest and west, and a seismic eruption event at 11:33 WITA (03:33 UTC) that produced no visible emissions but registered a strong signal of 44.4 mm amplitude lasting 409 seconds.
The Aviation Color Code remains Red, the highest level.
The Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program and USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report note that Lewotobi had been producing daily white-to-gray ash plumes up to 2 000 m (6 600 feet) above the summit through late September 2025, accompanied by continuing deformation and elevated seismicity. Authorities maintain a 6 km (3.7 miles) exclusion zone around the crater.
Lewotobi is a twin stratovolcano composed of Lewotobi Laki-laki (Male) and Lewotobi Perempuan (Female), situated on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara Province. It is known for explosive eruptions that produce ashfall, pyroclastic flows, and lava domes.
Previous eruptions have affected nearby villages and disrupted aviation routes across eastern Indonesia. The nearest larger town, Larantuka, lies about 60 km (37 miles) from the volcano.
Local populations remain at risk from ashfall, lahars, and pyroclastic density currents during major eruptive phases.
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
Producing an ash column rising to 13 700 m (44 500 feet) above sea level.”
A very powerful eruption. That’s another clear sign for the intensification of the geomagnetic reversal.