PVMBG Urges Residents To Stay Away From The Incandescent Lava Flow Of Mount Lewotobi Eruption

Visual Mount Lewotobi Male in Wulanggitang District, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara that emits white and gray smoke, Friday (12/1/2024). BETWEEN/Fransiska Mariana Nuka

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) appealed to residents to stay away from areas that are the direction of the incandescent lava flow from the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki in Wulanggitang District, East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

"Do not carry out any activities within a four-kilometer radius of the eruption center and sectoral five kilometers northeast of the incandescent lava flow," said Head of the Center for Volcano Monitoring and Mitigation of the Land Movement for the Nusa Tenggara Region, Zakarias Ghele Raja, in Wulanggitang, East Flores quoted by ANTARA, Friday, January 12.

The recommendation was issued on the basis of post-eruption evaluation on January 9, 2024, accompanied by hot clouds that point to the northeast as far as approximately 2,000 meters from the epicenter of Mount Lewotobi Laki.

During that period, said Zakarias, earthquake gusts were dominated so that there was an increase in SO2 from satellite image data.

In addition, the Low Frequency earthquake increased after January 9, 2024, indicating fluid rose to the surface and was marked by incandescent material avalanches from fractures and main craters.

"The amount of internal volcanicity is also decreasing but still fluctuating, meaning that there is still potential for magma supply from within," he said.

Zakarias asked the public to follow the directions on the recommendations that had been submitted.

The public is reminded to stay away from potential areas of incandescent lava flows that are within a radius of five kilometers of the northeast sector, namely Nobo and Nukolen Villages in Ile Bura District.

He also advised the public to be aware of the potential for rain lava flooding during the rainy season.

"Don't forget to continue to use masks to avoid the dangers of volcanic ash," he reminded.