Eruption Of Mount Ili Lewotolok NTT Causes Forest Fires

The peak of Mount Ili Lewotolok is burning and the fire is getting wider. BETWEEN/ho.

KUPANG - Fires in the protected forest area around the peak of Mount Ili Lewotolok, Lembata Regency, NTT, continue to occur after an eruption that emits incandescent lava.

The head of the Lembata Regency Forest Management Unit (KPH), Linus Lawe, admitted that he did not know the extent of the protected forest area that was burned because his party had not been able to enter the area.

"We don't know how much land has been burned. We can't get close because the protected forest fire is still within a 3 kilometer radius and there is still a ban from the Ili Lewotolok Volcano Observation Post (PPGA) to enter that radius," he was quoted as saying. Between, Wednesday, July 28.

Currently, his party is still coordinating with the Lembata Regency Government and the village government which is under the foot of Mount Ili Lewotolok.

He was worried that the spread of the fire would continue to spread and reach the surrounding villages, especially with the strong wind gusts in the area.

Currently, the fire that is burning around the peak of Mount Ili Lewotolok is heading to the villages of Kolontobo, Murouna, Riangbao and Petuntawa in Ile Ape District.

"Now the flames have reached approximately 1.8 kilometers from the top of the mountain, so we are anticipating this," added Linus.

Meanwhile, PPGA Head Ili Lewotolok Stanis Ara Kian said the latest developments on the danger of ejection and maintaining the stability of the weathered area were disturbed, there could be landslides specifically for the East-Southeast area.

"To anticipate this, there is no human activity in a 3 km radius and no climbing is allowed for a while. Because the Lewotolok eruption is still happening," he said.

Stanis said that up to now the seismic has tended to decline but with a note that the current seismicity tends to have a high frequency. Which means that there is still a supply of magma to the surface and the potential for eruptions is still happening.

"The action that can be taken now is that the community must follow the recommendations of the PVMBG with a radius of 3 km, there is no community activity. And continue to be aware of the direct impact of incandescent lava that can occur in all directions. As currently some vegetation is burning," he said.