PVMBG Records 7 Eruptions of Mount Lewotobi in Six Hours

Archive - Eruption of Mount Lewotobi. ANTARA/HO-PPG Lewotobi

KUPANG - Lewotobi Laki-Laki Volcano Observation Post (PGA) officers recorded seven eruptions of the Lewotobi Laki-Laki Volcano in East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, during the observation period Wednesday at 12.00-18.00 WITA or six hours with status Level III or Alert.

The Lewotobi PGA officer, Fransiskus Xaverius Masan, said the seven eruptions produced a column of gray ash with a height of between 200 and 800 meters above the peak.

"During the observation period from 12.00 to 18.00 WITA, seven eruptions were observed with an eruption column height ranging from 200 to 800 meters above the peak," he said as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 8.

He explained that visually the mountain was clearly visible until it was covered with a thin fog. The white main crater smoke with a thin intensity and weak pressure was observed to reach a height of about 50 to 200 meters above the peak.

In addition, the lava deposit is still monitored to the northwest-northwest as far as about 3.8 kilometers from the eruption center, while the lava flow to the northeast reaches about 4.34 kilometers.

From the results of monitoring the earthquake, during the six-hour observation, seven eruptive earthquakes with amplitudes of 7.4 to 44.4 millimeters and durations of 37 to 154 seconds were recorded.

In addition to the eruption earthquake, officers also recorded 10 aftershocks, 12 non-harmonic tremor earthquakes, 11 low-frequency earthquakes, and two distant tectonic earthquakes.

Until now, the level of activity of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki is still at Level III (Alert) so that the public is asked to continue to comply with the recommendations issued by PVMBG.

The public, climbers, and tourists are urged not to carry out activities within a radius of five kilometers from the center of the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki.

In addition, residents living around the stream that flows in the mountain are asked to be aware of the potential for flash floods if heavy rains occur, especially in the areas of Dulipali, Padang Pasir, Nobo, Nurabelen, Klatanlo, Hokeng Jaya, Boru, and Nawakote.

PVMBG also appealed to the public affected by volcanic ash rain to use masks or nose and mouth covers to reduce the impact of ash on the respiratory system.