PVMBG Expands Radius Of Prohibition Of Anticipation Of Lewotobi Eruption

Visual Hot Clouds Fall From Mount Lewotobi Male, East Flores Regency, NTT, Tuesday (16/1/2024). (ANTARA/Fransiska Mariana Nuka)

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has expanded the radius of prohibition on activities for the community to avoid the threat of an eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki in East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

"People and visitors or tourists do not carry out any activities within a four-kilometer radius of the eruption center, sectoral five kilometers to the north-northeast, and six kilometers to the northeast sector," said Head of PVMBG, Hendra Gunawan, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 16.

The recommendations for the extended prohibition area are based on evaluation of visual observations and instrumental monitoring which states a significant increase in the activities of Mount Lewotobi Laki.

The increase was manifested through an increase in the number of earthquake eruptions, lava flows, and earthquakes Low Frequency (LF) compared to the previous period.

Data reported by the PVMBG team in the field on Monday (15/1), lava avalanches accompanied by hot clouds to the north with a sliding distance of approximately one to 1.5 kilometers from the eruption center.

Lava fall was also seen in the north-northeast direction with a sliding distance of one kilometer. In addition, there was an avalanche that led to the northeast as far as two to three kilometers from the eruption center.

Meanwhile, based on instrumental observations, the types of earthquakes recorded during the period 12 to 15 January 2024, namely 51 eruptions or eruptions, 8 eruption cloud earthquakes, 172 avalanches, 3 gusts, 95 times LF earthquake, 1 shallow volcanic earthquake, 2 times deep volcanic earthquake, 2 times distant tectonic earthquake, and 3 times persistent tremor earthquake.

"The data indicates that volcanic material previously inside the volcano has reached its surface and is pushed out of the crater of Mount Lewotobi Laki," said Hendra.

The volcano, which is located in Wulanggitang District, is still at level IV or Alert.

Hendra appealed to the public to be aware of the potential for rain lava flooding in rivers that originate at the top of the mountain in the event of high-intensity rain.

"People affected by ash rain can wear masks to avoid the dangers of volcanic ash in the respiratory system," he said.