Potentially Hit By Lewotobi Lahar Falls, Residents Of Klatanlo Flores Timur Village Must Be Moved

Screenshot - Head of BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) stated that residents of Klatanlo Village, WulanggitangFlores Timur District, East Nusa Tenggara Province must be moved and cannot return to their old homes, due to safety considerations.

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari said the village was facing serious danger.

In addition to direct exposure to volcanic material in the form of rock - incandescent lava from the village within the hazard radius, it also has the potential to be affected by the overflow of lava from Mount Lewotobi Laki carried by rain.

"Even without rain, hot lava avalanches from Mount Lewotobi will be able to reach this village directly," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, November 18.

According to him, based on the results of monitoring the thermal image of the drone aircraft taken on November 17, 2024, it was found that lava avalanches were getting closer to the residential area of Klatanlo Village in the western region of Mount Lewotobi. Therefore, the government will relocate the villagers to a safer place completely.

BNPB has not been able to report in detail the number of residents living in Klatanlo Village, because it is currently still in the process of collecting data by a joint team of officers.

However, BNPB together with the relevant ministries and the East Flores Government will always try to provide the best for safety not only for Klatanlo residents but also for all victims affected by the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki, which has recorded 12,761 people since November 4, 2024, have been displaced.

"All the best schemes have been prepared starting from relocation, repair of damaged houses, and so on," said Abdul.