Sunday Morning, Mount Lewotobi Still Sprays Eruption

Mount Lewotobi erupted on Sunday morning (Doc. ANTARA)

NTT - Lewotobi Laki Volcano in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) erupted again on Sunday morning at 09:56 WITA. In anticipation, the public is advised not to move within a 7-kilometer radius of the eruption center.

According to official information released by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) covering ANTARA, the eruption column was observed to reach an altitude of about 1,000 meters above the top of the mountain or about 2,584 meters above sea level.

Monitoring from the communication and information team from the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kemkomdigi), Sunday in Ile Gerong Village showed that the column of volcanic ash was gray with moderate to thick intensity leading west.

Until this news was prepared, the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Male was still ongoing. Therefore, PVMBG recommends that people living around Mount Lewotobi Laki, as well as tourists in the area, do not carry out any activities within a radius of 7 km from the eruption center," said the official statement from the Ministry of Communication and Industry received in Jakarta, Sunday.

Residents are also asked to avoid sectors with the Southwest to Northwest as far as 8 km. People living around Mount Lewotobi Male-Laki also need to be aware of the potential for rain lava flooding, especially in rivers that originate at the top of the mountain.

If there is high intensity rain, the potential for this disaster can increase. Residents affected by ash rain are advised to wear a mask or mouth and mouth covering to protect the respiratory system from the dangers of volcanic ash that can harm health.

Head of the East Flores Communication and Information Office, Heronimus Lamawuran, stated that the Regional Government of East Flores Regency continues to coordinate with the Observation Post of Mount Lewotobi Laki in Pululera Village, Wulanggitang, East Flores, as well as the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation in Bandung for further monitoring.

"In addition, PVMBG is also coordinating with the BPBD of NTT Province and the local PB Satlak in providing the latest information regarding this volcanic activity, we urge the public to comply with the government's appeal," said Heronimus.

As of November 23, 2024 at 20:00 WITA, the total number of victims affected by the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki reached 13,240 people. Of these, 5,607 people were in the evacuation field post (poslap) spread across six locations, while 7,363 people took refuge independently in family or relatives' homes.

Since the eruption for the first time on November 4, 2024, the number of victims who died as a result of the disaster has reached nine people, with others injured and being treated at Larantuka Hospital, East Nusa Tenggara.