Mount Lewotobi Danger Zone Expanded as Authority Records 11 Eruptions Since Morning

TEMPO.CO, Bandung – The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has expanded the radius of the area affected by the Mount Lewotobi eruption.  The active volcano in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara is currently at level IV alert or Dangerous.

“The residents and visitors are advised not to do activities within a 7-kilometer radius from the center of the Mount Lewotobi eruption, as well as within an 8-kilometer sector in the southwest to northwest direction,” Geology Agency chief Muhammad Wafid said in a statement on Thursday, November 7, 2024.

This expanded danger zone came into effect at 12 p.m. local time. This decision was made following a series of eruptions from Mount Lewotobi on Thursday, November 7, 2024. The eruptions began at 00:40 local time, producing a thick ash column up to 500 meters from the summit. The team observed 10 eruptions until noon, from 02:07 to 10:48.

The eruption of Mount Lewotobi at 10:48 Jakarta time was observed to produce an ash column as high as 8 km. At the same time, a pyroclastic flow towards the north-northeast reached a distance of 3 km from the eruption center.

“This eruption lasted 4,466 seconds, or 1 hour and 14 minutes,” said Wafid.

From November 4 to 6, 2024, Mount Lewotobi erupted 15 times, according to the records of the Geological Survey. During this period, they recorded 23 explosive earthquakes, 56 harmonic tremors, 2 low-frequency earthquakes, 7 shallow volcanic earthquakes, and 16 deep volcanic earthquakes.

The team continued to record tremors with amplitudes ranging from 2.2 to 47.3 millimeters. There was also tectonic activity, with 2 local tectonic earthquakes and 6 distant tectonic earthquakes. The following day, November 7, 2024, Mount Lewotobi erupted 11 times until 12 p.m. local time.

Residents around Mount Lewotobi are also advised to be aware of potential lava flooding, especially in rivers originating from the mountain.

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