Diliri Sungai Berhulu Puncak Lewotobi, 3 Desa Di Flores Timur Rawan Banjir Lahar

Illustration. Residents lifted the used cold lava flood material for Mount Marapi in Batang Lona River, West Sumatra, Saturday (2/11/2024). (ANTARA PHOTO-Iggoy el Fitra)

JAKARTA - The Geological Agency noted that three villages in East Flores have the potential to flood cold lava from Mount Lewotobi Men because it is flowed by rivers that originate from the top of the volcano.

Head of the Geological Agency Muhammad Wafid said that cold lava floods have the potential to occur when moderate to heavy rains flush the peak of Mount Lewotobi which is believed to hold many volcanic material deposits.

If this condition occurs, then the three villages such as Dulipali and Nobo villages in Ile Bura District, and Padang Pasir Village in Wulangintang District around them are asked by the volcanology and disaster mitigation team of the Geological Agency to anticipate it.

"As the recommendations given are requested, there will be no activity at that location," he said in Jakarta, Monday, November 18, which was confiscated by Antara.

According to him, this is because the village is crossed by a river that originates from the peak of Mount Lewotobi Laki and water mixed with lava material will drop to enlarge the impact caused downstream.

"We have conveyed the warning and will continue to monitor it in coordination with the team in the field, especially since the area is at a radius of seven kilometers from the main crater," he added.

Previously, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) announced a warning of the potential for cold lava floods of Mount Lewotobi Laki on Monday afternoon, after receiving weather around the East Flores, Timor Island, Manggarai, West Manggarai, Ngada, and Sikka areas experiencing light rain and accompanied by lightning.

BMKG Deputy for Meteorology, Guswanto said that this condition has the potential to increase the risk around the slopes of the Lewotobi Laki volcano, because water can carry volcanic material in the form of sand, ash, rocks that also mix with wood or trees to close residential areas, as has happened in Mount Marapi, West Sumatra (West Sumatra).