Watch Out! Men's Lewotobi Volcano Status In East Flores Rises To Alert

KUPANG - According to a PVMBG press release on Monday, the results of visual and instrumental monitoring showed an increase in visual activity and seismicity on Mount Lewotobi Male and opportunities for hot clouds to emerge from crater fractures so that the level of volcanic activity was raised from Level II to Level III.

For this increase, reported by ANTARA, Monday, January 1, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has upgraded the status of the Lewotobi Laki Volcano in East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, from Level II or Alert to Level III or Alert starting January 1, 2024 at 04.00 WITA.

During the period 1 to 31 December 2023, Mount Lewotobi Male volcanic activity experienced a significant increase according to PVMBG observations.

The 1.584-meter-high volcano above sea level was observed emitting smoke with a smoke column height of 300 to 800 meters from the central crater and from a fracture in the northwest of the peak.

The emergence of a new fracture in the northeast on January 1, 2024, shows that the crater smoke gusts are widening so that the threat rate will increase.

In addition, PVMBG recorded a significant increase in deep volcanic earthquakes and shallow volcanic earthquakes in the past month.

The increase in seismic activity indicates an increase in pressure on the volcanic body related to magma supply at deep and shallow depths.

According to PVMBG, the increase in seismic activity of Mount Lewotobi Laki, which has occurred since December 12, 2023, was also followed by the emergence of Tornillo earthquakes related to fluid movements in the hydrothermal system.

This condition was followed by eruptions and gusts indicating that volcanic activity was shallow or already on the surface.

PVMBG conveyed that there is a potential danger if Mount Lewotobi Males experience explosive eruptions with an eruption material eruption distance of more than 3 km.

Stronger eruption activity can cause landslides in the fracture section and can cause hot clouds with a sliding distance of up to 4 km to the northwest-north and south-southeast.

Under these conditions, PVMBG recommends residents around Mount Lewotobi Male and visitors/tourists not to carry out any activities in areas within a radius of 3 km from the eruption center of Mount Lewotobi Laki and Lewotobi Perempuan as well as 4 km in the northwest-north and south-southwest directions from the eruption center of Mount Lewotobi Laki.

In addition, local governments are advised to coordinate with the Mount Lewotobi Male Observation Post in Pululura Village, Wulanggitang District, East Flores Regency, or PVMBG in Bandung to monitor the development of volcanic activity.