Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki's Alert Status Raised After Firelight Appears

TEMPO.CO, Bandung - The Geological Agency announced that the alert status of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, has been raised to Level III or Siaga, effective Monday, June 10, at 09:00 Central Indonesian Time (WITA).

“People around Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki and visitors/tourists are not allowed to conduct any activities within a radius of 3 kilometers from the center of the eruption and 4 kilometers of the sectoral zone in the north-northeast direction and 5 kilometers in the northeast sector,” the agency’s head Muhammad Wafid said in his statement on Monday, June 10.

The decision to raise the volcano’s status was made after firelight was observed during the eruption on June 9 at 18:43 WITA. “A strombolian eruption occurred on June 9 and firelight was seen emanating during the eruption,” Wafid said, adding that the lava flow remained stable.

The Geological Agency said that based on the measurements taken by a drone on June 9, the lava flew up to about 4,340 meters from the crater, while on April 29, it reached 4,320 meters. This suggests that the avalanche was moving relatively slowly.

Satellite images also showed almost no significant changes in the lava flow at the northeast end. “The influence of the slope and the high temperature of the lava remains high, allowing the lava to move albeit very slowly,” Wafid explained.

Based on the observation from May 26 to June 9, the volcanic activity of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki tended to increase, marked by eruptions that occurred almost every day with an average eruption column of 100-900 meters. The Geological Agency also found a significant increase in eruptive and volcanic earthquakes and avalanches.

AHMAD FIKRI

Editor's Choice: Fire at Denpasar LPG Warehouse Leaves 18 People in Intensive Care, Bali Police Say

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News