JAKARTA - The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has upgraded the activity status of Mount Lewotobi Laki in East Flores Regency (Flotim), East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to Level IV (Awas), starting Tuesday at 15.00 WITA.
Head of the Geological Agency Muhammad Wafid explained that the status increase was carried out after the results of visual and instrumental monitoring showed increased volcanic activity.
"The results of visual and instrumental analysis show that the activities of Men's Lewotobi Volcano are increasing, so that the activity level of Men's Lewotobi Volcano is raised from Level III to Level IV-Awas," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, June 17.
Based on visual observations in the period 16-17 June 2025, there was a significant increase in the volcanic activity of Mount Lewotobi Laki.
Visuals of the volcano are clearly visible until they are covered in fog. Observed the smoke from the main crater is white with a thin, medium to thick intensity about 11530 meters from the summit.
"The weather is sunny to cloudy, the wind is weak to the north, northeast, west, and northwest. The air temperature is about 20-30.1 degrees Celsius. The peak morphology is seen to open the crater leading to the northeast-east, so that in the event of an eruption, the material potential is more dominant in that direction," he explained.
Furthermore, the visual crater of the volcano on May 24, 2025, was seen extending towards the northwest-northwest and lava material was seen filling the crater with a black color of about 87,000 square meters and so far there has been no addition, so that in the event of an eruption it will potentially be explosive.
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Smoke gusts appear around the crater with weak to moderate pressure. Smoke is also seen in the peak area of the northwest side which resembles fractures and tends to be thin, while in the solfatara seepage on the northeast side, smoke appears thin.
"The appearance of crater smoke (solfatara) is caused by the presence of an alternative zone (weak zone), so that smoke comes out of the area, this area has the potential to experience direct blasts (direct eruptions in the same direction) which can lead to the northwest, northeast, and west of Mount Lewotobi," he said.
Meanwhile, seismic data shows a significant increase in internal volcanic earthquakes, which averaged only 8-10 incidents per day, but on June 17, 2025, there were 50 incidents in just two hours.
Gempatan data from June 16-17, 2025 at 14:00 WITA, namely five earthquake gusts, 18 non harmonic tremors, three low frequency earthquakes, three hybrid earthquakes, 52 deep volcanic earthquakes, and seven distant tectonic earthquakes.
"From the liquidmeter and GPS deformation data, it shows indications of inflation as well as InSAR data in line with these data showing inflation anomalies, this indicates pressure from within the volcano that could potentially become an eruption," he said.
Communities and tourists are asked not to carry out activities within a seven km radius and a southwest-east sector eight km from the eruption center, and to remain calm and follow directions from local governments.
"The public is also asked not to trust information with unclear sources," he said.
In addition, people around disaster-prone areas should be aware of the potential for lava flooding in the event of heavy rains, especially in watersheds that originate at the peak of Mount Lewotobi Laki, such as in Dulipali, Nobo, Hokeng Jaya, to Nu Selapolen.
Residents affected by ash rain are also advised to use a mask or a nose and mouth covering to protect the respiratory tract.
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