Mount Ili Lewotolok in NTT Erupts, Safety Zone Set at 2 Km from Crater
Translator
Editor
27 November 2020 17:38 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Bandung - Mount Ili Lewotolok in Lembata, East Nusa Tenggara, erupted today, Nov. 27, at 05:57 Central Indonesia Time (WITA). The ash column was observed to reach about 500 meters above the peak or 1,423 meters above sea level.
Based on the seismogram, the eruption was recorded at a maximum amplitude of 34 millimeters for about two minutes.
The Head of the Geological Unit of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG), Kasbani, explained that the ash column was gray to black in color with thick intensity leaning towards the west.
“The eruption is still ongoing and continuously spews thick black smoke,” said Kasbani in a written statement on Friday, Nov. 27.
The volcano has been on Alert Level II status since October 7, 2017. Based on the monitoring by officers from 06:00 to 12:00 local time, the mountain was clearly visible, releasing white thick smog in a medium pressure up to 500 meters high above the top of the crater.
The PVMBG Geological Unit recommended the public, including tourists and hikers, stay away from the mountain. They are prohibited from carrying out any activities within a two-kilometer (km) radius of the summit of Mount Ili Lewotolok.
Read: Governor Issues Warning as Mount Merapi Status Increases to Alert Level III
ANWAR SISWADI (CONTRIBUTOR)