Mount Ili Lewotolok in Lembata, East Nusa Tenggara Erupts, Local Communities are Asked to be Alert

Mount Ili Lewotolok in the northern part of Lembata Island, East Nusa Tenggara, Saturday (6/5/2023). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA  - The Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) said that Mount Ili Lewotolok in Lembata Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, erupted on Thursday at 10.32 a.m. Central Indonesian Time (WITA).

According to the report from Ili Lewotolok Volcano Observation Post officer Fajaruddin M. Balido which was broadcast by PVMBG, the height of the volcanic eruption column was observed to be approximately 700 meters above the peak or 2,123 meters above sea level.

The Ili Lewotolok eruption was recorded on a seismograph and had a maximum amplitude of 27.8 mm and a duration of 52 seconds.

The volcano was observed throwing gray ash with moderate intensity towards the west.

Ili Lewotolok experienced frequent eruptions from January 1 to October 5 2023. During that period, Ili Lewotolok was recorded as having erupted 66 times.

Mount Ili Lewotolok's activity level is at Level II (Alert).

At Level II activity level, residents around the volcano as well as climbers and tourists are asked not to enter and not carry out activities in the area within a two kilometer radius of the Mount Ili Lewotolok activity center.

Residents of the villages of Lamawolo, Lamatokan and Jontona are advised to be aware of the danger of lava avalanches or avalanches and hot clouds from the eastern part of the Ili Lewotolok crater.

Residents who live around valleys or rivers that originate at the peak of Mount Ili Lewotolok are asked to be aware of the threat of lava during the rainy season.

Apart from that, residents around Ili Lewotolok are advised to wear masks and protect their eyes and skin to avoid health problems when ash falls.