Four Indonesian volcanoes produce at least 13 eruptions, ash shuts airport

On Thursday, Indonesia experienced a series of volcanic events, with six eruptions at Mount Ibu in North Maluku, four at Ili Lewotolok in East Nusa Tenggara, two at Semeru in East Java, and one at Anak Krakatau. The eruption at Anak Krakatau occurred at 9:10 a.m. local time but did not produce a visible column, and the volcano remained at alert Level III. Ash from Ili Lewotolok caused the closure of Wunopito Airport in Lewoleba, a restriction extended until about 7 a.m. on Friday.

BMKG later indicated that ash from Anak Krakatau and Ili Lewotolok had cleared, while Mount Ibu’s ash plume was detected at heights of up to 7,000 feet. Earlier in the week, ash from Anak Krakatau had temporarily halted operations at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and several other airports.