PVMBG: Men's Lewotobi Mountain Status East Flores Down To Alert Level

KUPANG - Head of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) Hendra Gunawan said the level of activity status of Mount Lewotobi Male in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) dropped from level III (standby) to level II (alert).

"Visual observations in the period 22 to 29 February 2024 show that the volcanic activity of Mount Lewotobi Male tends to decline," Hendra said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, March 1.

In the evaluation point during that period, he said that the eruption earthquake was no longer recorded.

Earthquakes, hybrid earthquakes, and avalanches have decreased, as well as the intensity of earthquake gusts being observed in small quantities.

"The results of the drone monitoring show that the fracture structure on the lava surface indicates that lava is cooling down and there is no visible addition of new lava from the top of the mountain," he said.

However, the results of the evaluation in that period still showed an increase in the length of lava flow in the Northeast by around 150 for approximately one month.

The long increase in lava flow was due to the supply of magma which was indicated by the emergence of a volcanic earthquake on February 10, 2024.

It is also influenced by slope slope and high lava temperature, which allows lava to move even though it is very slowly.

With the decline in status, PVMBG recommends the community around the mountain not to carry out activities within a two-kilometer radius of the eruption center.

Similar recommendations also apply to sectoral three kilometers in the north-northeast and five kilometers in the northeast sector.

"PVMBG will always coordinate with the NTT BPBD and the local PB Satlak in providing information about the activities of Mount Lewotobi Men," said Hendra.