Summary of Key Points:

• Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted, spewing ash 8 kilometers high and forcing over 4,700 residents to evacuate.
• Seven international flights from Bali were cancelled, primarily affecting Jetstar and AirAsia routes.
• The volcanic ash led to the imposition of a 7-8 kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a prominent volcano on Flores Island in Indonesia, erupted late Thursday, sending dark ash clouds soaring 8 kilometers into the atmosphere. The eruption, described as lasting for approximately 11 minutes, prompted authorities to elevate the volcano's alert status to the highest tier. As a result, at least seven international flights from Bali were cancelled, significantly affecting travel plans for many passengers, including those on Jetstar and AirAsia who were looking to fly to Australia and Kuala Lumpur, respectively.

As of 9:45 a.m. local time, authorities indicated that multiple domestic and international flights faced delays, complicating travel further for individuals bound for destinations such as Thailand and Singapore. The local airport in Maumere, situated closest to the volcano, remained operational and was not impacted by the ash fallout, according to Indonesia's Transportation Ministry.

The eruption has had serious repercussions for local residents, with more than 4,700 individuals evacuated as safety measures were taken. Officials have declared a 14-day emergency status and established a command post to manage the ongoing response efforts. They reminded remaining residents to seek safe locations amid warnings of possible volcanic mudflows due to the expected heavy rainfall in the region.