Flores Timur, Indonesia (CNN) — Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, located in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), remains active with continuous eruptions, the latest occurring early Tuesday morning (November 12, 2024). The volcano erupted at 5:27 AM local time, releasing a towering ash plume and new lava flows.
According to the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), the ash column from the latest eruption reached a height of 3,500 meters above the summit, or around 5,084 meters above sea level. The thick, gray ash cloud drifted southwest and west, blanketing nearby areas.
New Lava Flows
The Lewotobi Laki-Laki Volcano Observation Post reported that the volcano has created new lava flows extending 3.8 kilometers from the eruption center. Earlier, lava had been observed flowing northeast up to 4.34 kilometers away.
Herman Yosef Mboro, head of the observation post, noted that the new lava flow was seen during the monitoring period from midnight to 6:00 AM on Tuesday.
“The lava is flowing towards the west and northwest, covering a distance of 3,800 meters from the eruption point,” Herman said in a statement on Tuesday morning. He urged residents to stay away from the designated danger zones as outlined by PVMBG.
All Airports in East Nusa Tenggara Closed Amid Mount Lewotobi Eruption
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki remains at Level IV (Danger) alert status. Authorities have set a safety exclusion zone of 7 kilometers (4.35 miles) from the eruption center, with extended danger zones of up to 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) to the southwest and northwest.
Ongoing Evacuation Efforts
The combined search and rescue (SAR) teams, continue to evacuate residents affected by the ongoing eruptions of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki.
According to Supriyanto Ridwan, Head of Maumere’s Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), coordination with the East Flores Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has so far led to the evacuation of 12,288 people as of 8:00 PM on November 10, 2024.
The evacuees are spread across several areas: 6,375 people in Titehena District, 1,236 in Wulanggitang District, 127 in Ile Bura District, 302 in Demon Pagong District, 365 in Larantuka District, 46 in Ile Mandiri and Lewolema Districts, 12 on Adonara Island, and 3,835 in Sikka District.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as the volcanic activity shows no signs of abating. Emergency response teams are on high alert, ensuring the safety of local communities as they brace for further eruptions.
(Raidi/Agung)
