Indonesia has over 100 active volcanoes, including Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, which is currently highly active. As of May 18, 2025, officials from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) have raised the alert level from 3 (alert) to level 4 (warning) — the highest alert level — as it erupted the night before.
Though the eruption was small, experts are still monitoring the situation as the level 4 warning stays in effect. Learn more about what these levels indicate, along with the methods volcanologists use to monitor and alert people about volcanoes in Indonesia and around the world.
According to a translated press release from the PVMBG, "the eruption produced an eruption column reaching 3,000 [about 9,800 feet] to 5,500 [about 18,000 feet] meters above the peak of the mountain or around 7,000 [about 23,000 feet] meters above sea level.”
The eruption was accompanied by thick, gray ash ...
