‘Highest alert issued’ after volcano erupts in Indonesia leading to travel chaos

Travel in the region has been affected

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on the island of Flores erupted yesterday afternoon sending a pillar of ash more than 11km (6.8 miles) into the sky as per the country's volcanology agency.

The incident happened at 17:35 local time (10:35 BST) with authorities raising the alert level, evacuating one village, and telling people to stay away from a 7km radius around the volcano.

No casualties have been reported, however, travel chaos has ensued leading to delayed or cancelled flights of multiple airlines, notably to the holiday hotspot of Bali.

Air India, Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Juneyao Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia were among those that have cancelled flights to and from Bali, located west of Flores.

An overview of airport data from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on the island of Bali has shown that at noon today (18 June) more than 20 flights have been cancelled due to the volcano.

Meanwhile, domestic flights to Flores have had to be cancelled.

In the last few hours a more regular service has returned to Bali's main airport.

Geology agency head Muhammad Wafid warned of potential lahar floods which are a type of mud or debris flow of volcanic materials that can occur in the case of heavy rain.

Residents were also urged to wear face masks to protect themselves from volcanic ash.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency reported the evacuation of at least one village and said ash rain was reported in others outside the exclusion zone.

With tremors still being detected, a spokesperson called on residents near the volcano "to evacuate to safe locations".

Last November nine people were killed after an eruption from the same volcano which is one of Indonesia's most active.

Last month Mount Etna erupted in Sicily leading to dozens of tourists fleeing the volcano in scary scenes.