Mount Ile Lewotolok Eruption, Ejected Ash as High as 600 Meters
KUPANG - Mount Ili Lewotolok in Lembata Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, erupted on Monday, at 10.17 Witadengan a high column of ash observed about 600 meters above the peak of the mountain.
"The column of ash is observed to be gray with a thick intensity leaning to the west," said Ile Lewotolok Volcano Observatory Officer Yeremias Kristianto Pugel, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, June 22.
He explained that the ash column was observed to reach about 2,023 meters above sea level or about 600 meters above the peak of Mount Ile Lewotolok.
Based on the results of observations, the eruption was recorded on the seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 40 millimeters and a duration of about one minute 16 seconds.
Currently, Mount Ile Lewotolok is still at Level II Status or Alert.
The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) appealed to the public around the mountain as well as visitors, climbers, and tourists not to enter and not to carry out activities within a two-kilometer radius from the center of volcanic activity.
In addition, the public is asked to be aware of the potential danger of lava flows or landslides and hot clouds in the southern, southeast, western, and northeastern sectors of the mountain.
PVMBG also reminded residents living around Mount Ile Lewotolok to use mouth and nose protection masks to reduce the impact of exposure to volcanic ash on health.
The public is also advised to use eye and skin protection equipment and cover clean water reservoirs so that they are not contaminated with volcanic ash.
The local government and the community are expected to continue to coordinate with the Ile Lewotolok Mountain Observation Post in Laranwutun Village, Ile Ape District, and with PVMBG to obtain the latest information related to the volcanic activity of the volcano.
PVMBG stated that the development of the activity of Mount Ile Lewotolok and technical recommendations can be monitored through the Magma Indonesia application and website as well as the official information channel of the Geological Agency.