Japan assesses tsunami risk after Indonesian volcano eruption

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If any tsunami waves were generated from Indonesias Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, they would reach Japan’s Okinawa earliest at around 2.30pm on July 7.

PHOTO: AFP

TOKYO - Japan’s weather agency said on July 7 that it is assessing the possibility of tsunami reaching the country after a large volcanic eruption was observed on the Indonesian island of Flores.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,584m-high twin-peaked volcano on the tourist island of Flores, erupted at 11.05am local time (12.10pm, Japan time) and if any tsunami waves were generated, they would reach Japan’s southern island prefecture of Okinawa around 3.30pm (2.30pm, Singapore time) at the earliest, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki is 3,913km away from Japan’s Okinawa.

Indonesian authorities on July 7 warned of the possibility of hazardous lahar floods – a type of mud or debris flow of volcanic materials – if heavy rain occurs, particularly for communities near rivers.

There were no immediate reports of damages or casualties.

In June,

dozens of flights to and from Bali

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted multiple times in November 2024, killing nine people and forcing thousands to evacuate, as well as the cancellation of scores of international flights to Bali.

There were no immediate reports of cancelled flights after the July 7 eruption.

Laki-Laki, which means man in Indonesian, is twinned with the calmer but taller 1,703m volcano named Perempuan,