Monitoring Post: The Top Of Mount Ile Lewotolok Crater Is Full Of Lava

Mount Ile Lewotolok. ANTARA/Kornelis Kaha

KUPANG - The Ile Lewotolok Volcano Monitoring Post on Lembata Island, Lembata Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), reported that the volcano's crater was full of lava so that it overflowed and flowed down the slopes of the mountain in the east.

"Currently, lava is still overflowing from the crater of the mountain," said Head of the Ile Lewotolok Volcano Monitoring Post, Stanis Arakian, quoted by Antara, Monday, June 6.

He said on Saturday (4/6) lava overflowed and came out which was visible from the location of the monitoring post.

The lava, he said, flowed as far as 2,000 meters from the crater rim. This lava flow activity is still continuing until now but visually it is not clearly visible.

Stanis added that if the lava flows in large quantities it will pass through the river, so it is feared that it will reach residents' settlements.

"The lava filled at the top of the volcano on May 31, 2022 overflowed and flowed down the eastern part of the mountain with a distance of about 1,500 meters," he said.

Then on Saturday (4/6) the overflowing lava also flowed to the same location with a distance of 2,000 meters.

He added that the new lava flow at the top of the mountain led to two villages in East Ile Ape District, namely Lamawolo and Lamatokan villages.

"As long as there is still a heating process from below, the crater will overflow," he said.

Therefore, residents are asked to be careful and always be aware of the presence of the lava. "Until now, the status of the mountain is still at level III or on standby," said Stanis.