[hanomantoto]

TEMPO.CO, Bandung – Geological Agency noted that Mount Lewotobi in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has erupted at least six times since early Thursday, November 7, 2024. Several eruptions produced glowing lava flows reaching a distance of 1.5 kilometers from the eruption center.

The first eruption this morning occurred at 00:40 WITA (Central Indonesian Time) with the observed eruption column reaching a height of 500 meters above the summit of Mount Lewotobi. The ash column was reported to be grayish with thick intensity leaning towards the southwest. The eruption was recorded on the seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 22.2 millimeters and a duration of at least 4 minutes 46 seconds.

The next eruption occurred at 02:41 WITA with the observed column height penetrating 1 kilometer from the mountaintop. The ash column observed was grayish with thick intensity leaning towards the southwest. The eruption was recorded with a maximum amplitude of 27.3 millimeters and a duration of at least 9 minutes 51 seconds. The eruption was accompanied by glowing lava flows flowing towards the north of Mount Lewotobi with a range of 1.5 kilometers.

The Geological Agency then recorded the next eruption of Mount Lewotobi in the morning at 06:25 WITA. The eruption produced an ash column height of 2 kilometers from the mountaintop, or equivalent to 4,084 meters above sea level. The ash column was grayish with thick intensity leaning towards the southwest and west. The eruption was recorded on the seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 47.3 millimeters and a duration of at least 2 minutes 19 seconds.

A few minutes later, an eruption occurred again at 06:32 WITA. This eruption was reported to be accompanied by a rumbling sound. The observed ash column height of the eruption reached 2.5 kilometers above the summit of Mount Lewotobi. The ash column was grayish with thick intensity leaning towards the southwest and west. The eruption was recorded with a maximum amplitude of 47.3 millimeters and a duration of at least 4 minutes 44 seconds.

Mount Lewotobi erupted again at 08:37 WITA with the observed ash column height penetrating 1.5 kilometers from the mountaintop, or equivalent to 3,084 meters above sea level. The ash column observed was grayish with thick intensity leaning towards the southwest. The eruption was recorded on the seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 23.6 millimeters and a duration of at least 6 minutes 2 seconds.

In the morning, Mount Lewotobi erupted again at 08:35 WITA. The eruption produced an ash column height of 2.5 kilometers from the mountaintop, or equivalent to 4,084 meters above sea level. The ash column was grayish with thick intensity leaning towards the southwest. The eruption was recorded with a maximum amplitude of 47.3 millimeters and a duration of at least 2 minutes 33 seconds. The eruption resulted in lava flows towards the northwest reaching a distance of 1 kilometer from the eruption center.

The Geological Agency currently sets the Alert status, or Level IV, at Mount Lewotobi since November 3, 2024, at 24.00 WITA. “Communities around Mount Lewotobi and visitors/tourists should not engage in any activities within a radius of 7 kilometers from the eruption center of Mount Lewotobi,” according to the Geological Agency’s statement on Thursday, November 7, 2024.

The Geological Agency urges the community to remain calm and follow the directions of the local government. Residents around Mount Lewotobi should also be alert to the potential of lava in the rivers originating from the peak of the mountain in case of heavy rainfall.

“People affected by the volcanic ash rain from Mount Lewotobi should use masks/face covers to avoid the danger of volcanic ash on the respiratory system,” according to the Geological Agency.

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