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BPBD East Flores warns of potential cold lava flows from Mount Lewotobi
The villages of Dulipali, Nobo and Waiula, among others, were cited as being at among the highest risk of heavy rain-induced lahars.
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Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki spews volcanic material as observed from Pululera village in East Flores regency, East Nusa Tenggara, on Jan. 10, 2024. (Antara/Mega Tokan )
T
he East Flores Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) has urged people in Wulanggitang district, East Flores, and the surrounding areas to be on alert for possible cold lava flows, or lahars, from Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki.
"A number of displaced people who previously evacuated to camps have returned to their homes. However, awareness must always be maintained," said East Flores BPBD emergencies and logistics division chief Avelina M. Hallan on Monday, as quoted by Antara.
Heavy rainfall has soaked the area over the past few days, particularly at the mountaintop. Thick clouds were also spotted around the mountain on Sunday, which prompted an advisory from the East Flores BPBD.
"We always receive information concerning weather events and the mountain's potential eruptions from the PVMBG [Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation], so we want people always to be aware," Avelina added.
The villages of Dulipali, Nobo and Waiula, among others, were cited as being at among the highest risk of heavy rain-induced lahars.
Previously, the PVMBG reduced its recommended evacuation radius around the volcano to about 3 kilometers from the crater, with larger buffers in areas believed to be at higher risk of flows, such as the mountain’s northern slopes.
The announcement was made after PVMBG noted a decrease in volcanic activity on the mountain in late January 2024. It also noted that decreasing lava pressure had resulted in more regular surface-based quakes.
"The growth of the lava dome at the top of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki has slowed down, indicating that its supply is decreasing," said PVMBG head Hendra Gunawan.
Despite the decreasing intensity of volcanic activity, the East Flores BPBD and the PVMBG are continuing to urge people to be on alert for lava flows.
