JAKARTA: An Indonesian volcano spewed a 10-kilometre (6.2-miles) molten plume of ash topped by lightning into the Friday night sky, weeks after another huge eruption triggered dozens of flight cancellations in Bali.

According to the country’s volcanology agency, the height of the eruption column at Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,584-metre-high volcano on the tourist island of Flores, was approximately 10,000 metres above the summit.

The eruption was triggered by a gas buildup in recent weeks, the agency’s head said in a statement.

He also warned of the possibility of hazardous floods — a type of mud or debris flow of volcanic materials — if heavy rain occurs, particularly for communities near rivers.

Tourists and residents were told to avoid a six-kilometre radius around the crater. Pictures shared by the geological agency showed volcanic lightning near the top of the ash plume.

Last month, the volcano spewed a colossal 18-kilometre tower of ash, scrapping 24 flights at Bali’s international airport.

There were no immediate reports of cancelled flights after Friday’s eruption.

Laki-Laki, which means man in Indonesian, is twinned with the calmer but taller 1,703-metre volcano named Perempuan, after the Indonesian word for woman.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”.

Published in Dawn, Aug 2nd, 2025