A Total Of 2,782 Residents Affected By The Eruption Of Ile Lewotolok Volcano Were Evacuated

Mount Ili Lewotolok Volcano erupted volcanic material in Lembata Regency, NTT, Sunday, November 29. (Photo: Aken Udjan / Antara)

JAKARTA - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Lembata Regency, NTT, reported that 2,782 residents were successfully evacuated from under the foot of Mount Ili Lewotolok in Lembata, which erupted again since morning at 09.00 WITA, Sunday, November 29.

Head of BPBD Lembata Kanis Making said that in connection with the development of the volcano disaster, he said that thousands of refugees came from 17 villages in Ile Ape District and 9 villages in East Ile Ape District.

"There are six points that have become evacuation sites, namely 2,139 people in the old regent's office, 32 in Ankara Hall, 140 in Central Lewoleba, 228 Tapolangu, 15 in Baopana Village and 228 in the Regional Civil Service Agency," he added. reported by Antara, Monday, November 30.

Based on the interim report, the pattern of evacuation for Mount Ili Lewotolok is adjusted to the pattern of refugees from Mount Merapi, by prioritizing health protocols to prevent the occurrence of COVID-19 transmission.

Until now, there have been no reports of casualties in the disaster.

"We are grateful for the assistance from the Police and the TNI and the affected communities are cooperative so that the evacuation process will not encounter too many obstacles," he added.

Previously it was reported that Mount Ili Lewotolok erupted again and released a column of ash as high as approximately 4,000 m above the peak or it is estimated to reach 5,423 meters above sea level.

According to reports, the ash column was observed to be gray with a thick intensity leaning towards the east and west. This eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 35 mm and a duration of approximately 10 minutes.

Now the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) has raised the status of the volcanic activity of Mount Ili Lewotolok from Level II or "Waspada" to Level III or "Alert". The status upgrade is set on 29 November 2020, at 13.00 WITA local time.