Mt. Lewotobi eruption danger zone expanded to nine kilometers

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The eruption danger zone radius of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, has been expanded to nine kilometers in the southwest-northwest sector and seven kilometers from the crater's peak.

Head of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Muhammad Wafid stated in Jakarta on Saturday that the decision was made following a significant increase in volcanic activity on November 7-9, 2024.

The danger zone radius means that no one is allowed to engage in activities within the specified radius, except for joint officers, due to the high risk of being directly affected by the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki.

Despite the heightened volcanic activity of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki and the expansion of the danger zone, Wafid highlighted that volcanology analysis so far indicates that the condition does not have the potential to cause a tsunami.

Visual observations by the Geological Agency volcano observation post officers in East Flores found that smoke from the main crater is white to thick brown, reaching an altitude of eight kilometers from the summit.

Major eruptions occurred several times, including on November 7 and 9, with the ash column reaching nine kilometers above the peak or 10 kilometers above sea level, and pyroclastic flows that slid two to three kilometers toward the northwest.

Seismic data from Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki recorded 20 eruption earthquakes, 19 gust earthquakes, 23 harmonic tremors, three shallow volcanic earthquakes, 11 deep volcanic earthquakes (VA), and continuous tremors with amplitudes ranging from 1.4 to 17.7 mm on November 7-8.

“Earthquakes associated with tectonic activity were recorded, including four local tectonic earthquakes," officers from a Geological Agency volcano observation post stated.

On November 9, 2024, until 06:00 WITA, one eruption earthquake, one gust earthquake, one distant tectonic earthquake, and continuous tremors with amplitudes ranging from 1.4 to 7.4 mm were recorded.

At least 8,431 residents have been evacuated due to the series of eruptions, according to data reported by the East Flores Regional Disaster Management Agency on Friday night. The evacuees include residents of the districts of Titihena, Wulanggitang, Ile Bura, Demon Pagong, Larantuka, Sikka, Ile Mandiri, and Eas Adonara.