This probably spewed more CO2 into the atmosphere in a couple of days than Luxon of NZ and Albo of Oz think they stop in a year — but it’s good for the planet.

On 7 July 2025, Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted twice, unleashing one of the most powerful volcanic events in the region since 2010. The first eruption occurred just after 11:00 a.m. local time, propelling a massive column of scorching ash 11 miles into the atmosphere and blanketing surrounding villages in thick volcanic debris. The explosion forced the cancellation of at least 24 international flights and disrupted domestic routes, though Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport remained operational.

Later that evening, a second eruption around 7:30 p.m. sent additional ash and lava up to 8 miles into the sky. According to Indonesia’s Geology Agency, avalanches of hot gas, rocks, and lava raced three miles down the mountain’s slopes, while drone footage revealed lava actively filling the crater—evidence of deep magma movement triggering the quakes. Despite no reported casualties, officials doubled the exclusion zone to 7 km (4.3 miles) and warned of potential lava floods triggered by heavy rains. Images from the eruption showed mushroom-shaped ash clouds towering over the landscape and villages coated in volcanic gravel and ash up to rooftops. Authorities continue to urge calm, discourage misinformation, and emphasize evacuation and vigilance in disaster-prone areas.