Tonight Mount Lewotobi Men Lontarkan Lava Pijar Sejaun 2 Kilometers

Incandescent lava was ejected out of the crater of Mount Lewotobi Male in East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, on Tuesday (16/1/2024). (ANTARA/HO-PVMBG)

JAKARTA - The Geological Agency reported a continuous eruption with incandescent lava two kilometers from the crater of Mount Lewotobi Laki in East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

"At 21.00 WITA, there was a incandescent lava avalanche to the southwest for two kilometers," said Acting Head of the Geological Agency Muhammad Wafid as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 16.

In addition to incandescent lava, Mount Lewotobi Male also threw volcanic ash as high as approximately 600 meters due to the eruption activity that occurred at 20.58 WITA.

Wafid said the volcanic ash column was white to gray with thick intensity leaning towards the north and northeastern.

"The eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 47.3 millimeters and a temporary duration of approximately 8 minutes 42 seconds," he said.

Mount Lewotobi Men are still at level IV or alert status. The Geological Agency through the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) still maintains that highest status considering that volcanic activity and seismicity are still high.

The public is asked not to carry out any activities within a radius of 4 kilometers from the eruption center and sectoral 5 kilometers to the northwest to the north and northeast.

In addition, the public is also asked to be calm and follow the direction of the local government and not to believe in issues whose sources are unclear.

If there is an eruption and ash rain, people are advised to stay indoors, and if they are outside the house, they are advised to use the nose, mouth (mask) and eyes (glasses).

People around Mount Lewotobi are aware of the potential for cold lava flooding in rivers that originate at the peak in the event of high-intensity rain.

Mount Lewotobi, which has a height of 1,584 meters above sea level, is a twin volcano located in the southeast of Flores Island.

The active volcano consists of two peaks, namely Mount Lewotobi Male and Mount Lewotobi Woman.