Mount Lewotolok In NTT Eruption: 1,387 Eruptions And Thousands Of Earthquakes In A Week

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) reported seismic data on Mount Ile Lewotolok in Lembata Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province starting July 8-15, 2025 reaching 1,387 eruptions.

Observer of Mount Ile Lewotolok, who served at the Mount Lewotolok Observation Post in Ile Ape District, Stanilaus Ara Kian, was contacted from Kupang, saying that however, the height of the volcanic eruption was not like in the period 1-7 July 2025, which ranged from 100-1,200 meters from the top of the mountain.

In the period from July 8-15, the eruption with a column height of 100 to 400 meters from the summit. The eruption column is white to gray. The eruption is also accompanied by rumbling sounds and weak and strong bangs," Stanilaus said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, July 22.

In addition to the eruption which amounted to 1,387 times, his party also recorded 1,461 earthquake gusts, two harmonic tremors, and seven non- Harmonic Tremor.

In addition, in the period 8 to 15 July, there were 18 deep volcanic earthquakes, two local tectonic earthquakes, and 12 distant tectonic earthquakes.

The seismicity shows an increase in the number, especially the eruption earthquake and gust earthquake, with gusts dominating seismic footage. This can indicate that shallow activity or surface activity is still very dominant today," he said.

Meanwhile, volcanic earthquakes were recorded and showed an increasing trend of numbers. He added that the emergence of this volcanic earthquake indicates an increase in pressure or stress on the mountain's body related to the rock mapping process caused by the supply of deep-magnetic fluid.

He added that the energy is estimated or estimated the amount of energy through the method of averaged value amplitude or Real-time Seismic Amplitude Measurements (RSAM) shows that in this period energy tends to decrease. The station currently used is BTP Station.

Meanwhile, based on deformation measurements or changes in shape with EDM, fluctuations in the value of oblique distance with a downward trend (strengthening) at the beginning of the second week of July and then ups and downs at the end of the second week of July.

"Baseline GPS shows flat or flat, except the GLMT GWAW baseline which shows baseline allowances," he said.

Until July 15, 2025 Stanis said the status of the mountain was still at Level III or alert. Therefore, people around the foot of the mountain are still advised to be vigilant. Visitors and tourists are also prohibited from climbing to the top of the mountain.