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Mount Ile Lewotolok continues to erupt, residents advised to stay clear
The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has recorded that the volcano on the island regency has erupted 90 times since the beginning of this year.
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Hikers explore Mount Ile Lewotolok, one of the peaks that have become a part of "Festival Tiga Gunung" (Three Mountains Festival, F3G) in Lembata regency, East Nusa Tenggara. (instagram.com/festival3gunung/File)
M
ount Ile Lewotolok in Lembata island, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), has erupted three times since Monday, causing officials to issue a warning for residents to stay clear of the volcano.
The Ile Lewotolok Volcano Observatory in Lembata reported that the mountain erupted for the first time at 4:33 p.m. on Monday, spewing a 500-meter-high ash column. The second eruption occurred at 05:27 a.m., releasing a dark gray ash column up to 400 meters, with thick intensity leaning toward the northwest. This second eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 24.5 millimeters and lasted around 1 minute 35 seconds.
"The eruption was followed by a weak rumble," said observatory head Stanislaus Ara Kian.
Stanislaus said a subsequent eruption on Tuesday occurred at 06:57 a.m., the ash column was observed to be pale gray, with the smoke peak leaning northwest.
The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) recorded that the volcano on the island regency has erupted 90 times since the beginning of this year. Eruptions were also reported in 2021.
So far, the mountain is still on level 2 (alert) status. The observatory advised local residents, visitors, climbers and tourists to minimize their activities within a 2-kilometer radius of the mountain’s crater.
The observatory also advised residents of nearby villages--Lamawolo, Lamatokan, and Jontona--to always stay alert and recognize the potential threat of lava flows or avalanches and hot clouds from the eastern part of the peak.
Local people are instructed to wear masks and other equipment to protect the eyes and skin. These measures are employed to avoid respiratory infections (ISPA) and other health problems.
Ile Ape district head Laurens Manuk and his party previously held a coordination meeting with all stakeholders. The meeting discussed the relocation policy of residents to avoid the danger of eruptions from Mt. Ile Lewotolok.
