Not Only One Volcano In NTT Has Alert Status, PVMBG Calls Three Other Mountains In Alert Status

Men's Lewotobi Volcano in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara erupted again, Monday (1/1/2024). (ANTARA/HO-PVMBG)

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has declared an increase in the status of the Lewotobi Male volcano to Alert starting January 1, 2024 at 04.00 WITA.

The increase in status refers to the results of visual and instrumental monitoring which show an increase in activity and seismicity in the mountain, and is aware of hot clouds from the direction of crater fractures.

PVMBG through the Center for Monitoring of Volcano and Disaster Mitigation of the Land Movement of Nusa Tenggara said that one mountain is now level III or Alert, while the other three volcanoes are alert or level II.

"Of the 17 active volcanoes on the islands of Flores and Lembata, one volcano has the status of Alert and the three have the status of Alert," said Head of the Center for Volcano Monitoring and Mitigation of the Land Movement for the Nusa Tenggara Region, Zakarias Ghele Raja in Wulanggitang District, East Flores, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, January 1.

Furthermore, three firearms with Alert status are Ile Lewotolok Volcano in Lembata Regency, Inelika in Ngada Regency, and Lewotobi Perempuan in East Flores.

Mount Ile Lewotolok was previously on Alert status, but the status of the mountain was lowered on December 28, 2022 to Alert.

Meanwhile, Mount Inelika, which previously had normal status or was at level I, experienced an increase in status to level II or Alert on October 4, 2023.

The increase in status is based on an increase in seismic activity which shows an increase in pressure under the mountain's body which can trigger volcanic earthquakes and phreatic eruptions.

"Meanwhile, the increase in the status of the Lewotobi Perempuan volcano to Alert occurred on December 17, 2023," said Zakarias.

With the increase in the status of the four active volcanoes, Zakarias said there are several potential dangers that the community must avoid, namely volcanic ash, hot clouds, and toxic gases that come out.

Therefore, the people around the mountain must stay away from the center of the volcanic eruption or not carry out activities around the mountain. This must be done because the sudden speed of magma movement in the earth's stomach is very difficult to anticipate.

"Indeed, the movement of magma from a magma source can be known through the frequency of volcanic earthquakes, but the sudden speed of magma is difficult to avoid," he concluded.