Mount Lewotobi Men NTT At Alert Level, Hazard Radius Expanded 5 KM

The eruption of volcanic ash coming out of the top of Mount Lewotobi Male was observed from the Volcano Observation Post in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, Monday (10/6/2024). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has expanded the hazard distance of Mount Lewotobi Laki in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, along with the increase in status from alert to alert.

Head of PVMBG Hendra Gunawan asked the public not to carry out any activity within a radius of 3 kilometers from the eruption center as well as sectoral 4 kilometers in the north-east direction and 5 kilometers in the northeast sector. "The community must be calm and follow the direction of the local government and does not believe the unclear issues," Hendra said in a report received quoted by ANTARA, Monday, June 10. When Mount Lewotobi Male was still on alert or level II, the distance of danger was only 2 kilometers from the eruption center and sectoral 3 kilometers in the north-east direction of the sea. PVMBG decided to expand the hazard distance so that the community was protected from the volcanic material of the volcano. During the period May 26 to June 9, 2024, Mount Lewotobi Male experienced 51 eruptions, 6 avalanche earthquakes 21 times earthquake gusts, 6 times harmonic earthquake, 15 times low frequency earthquake, 1 time hybrid earthquake. Then, PVMBG also recorded 270 times shallow volcanic earthquake, 146 times deep volcanic earthquake, 14 times local tectonic earthquake, and 53 times distant tectonic earthquake. The eruption occurred almost every day as indicated by a column height of an average of 100-900 meters from the peak of Mount Lewotobi Laki. "On June 9, 2024, there was an eruption of strombolian and visible flares during the eruption," said Hendra. Lewotobi Mountain which has an altitude of 1,584 meters above sea level is a twin volcano located in the south of Flores Island.

The mountain consists of two peaks, namely Mount Lewotobi Male and Mount Lewotobi Perempuan. PVMBG visually and instrumentally monitors the mountain from the observation post located in Pululera Village, Wulanggitang District, East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara.