Mount Lewotobi Erupts Again, Danger Zones Are Expanded By 10 Km

Erupsi Gunung Lewotobi Laki-laki tampak dari Desa Pululura di Flores Timur, NTT, Jumat 8 November 2024. (ANTARA PHOTO-Aditya Pradana Putra)

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has the opportunity to expand the danger zone for the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki to a radius of 10 kilometers after a devastating follow-up eruption on Friday, November 8 afternoon.

"In consideration. The conditions in the field will still be analyzed whether the radius is re-expanded. Meanwhile, those that are still valid at a radius of 7-8 kilometers from the summit," said Head of PVMG of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Hadi Wijaya in a press conference broadcast, Friday, November 8, quoted by Antara.

Two follow-up eruptions that occurred this afternoon at around 13.55 WITA became a reference for the PVMBG team to consider expanding the danger zone. The danger zone means that no human activity in the zone with the specified radius is due to the high risk of being directly affected by volcanic eruptions.

Hadi explained that the first eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki threw volcanic ash about four kilometers into the air. One minute later there was a second eruption that was even more devastating because the volcano ejected volcanic ash as high as approximately 8-10 kilometers into the air and accompanied by a thunderous roar.

Hadi, who was at the scene, explained that the eruption not only exhaled volcanic ash but also hot clouds containing sand with thick thickness. Hot clouds that previously headed west this afternoon have also spread in all directions.

As many as eight monitoring post officers who were monitoring the activities of Mount Lewotobi Laki in Pululura Village, Wunggitang were forced to evacuate up to eight kilometers due to the series of eruptions.

"This condition is what we socialize to the public why they should follow recommendations from the government," he said, adding that the current status of Mount Lewotobi Laki activity is still at level IV or Alert.