The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has predicted that volcanic activity in Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, has the potential to trigger more eruptions.
Head of the Geological Agency, Muhammad Wafid, said that based on the latest visual and instrumental data, eruptions, gusts, and volcanic earthquake activities are still being recorded, therefore Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki is still on alert status.
“There is still a supply of magma to the surface,” he informed in Bandung on Wednesday.
Although there was a slight decrease in earthquake activity on Wednesday, a column of smoke was still visible, reaching 300 to one thousand meters from the peak, he said.
Therefore, his agency is still prescribing maintaining a safe radius of seven kilometers from the peak of the mountain.
“We are continuously monitoring the activity. Any increasing activity can be read from the instrument or the visual. There are still possibilities for further eruptions,” Wafid said.
Currently, the Geological Agency and the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) are conducting a search to ensure there are no residents or activities in the dangerous radius area.
The Geological Agency raised the status of Mt. Lewotobi Laki-laki to Level IV on Sunday based on the results of an evaluation for the October 23–November 3, 2024, period.
“Based on the results of visual and instrumental monitoring, there has been a significant increase in volcanic activity on Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki,” Wafid disclosed.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted at 2:48 local time on Monday. The eruption was recorded on a seismogram, with a maximum amplitude of 17 millimeters and a duration of approximately three minutes and five seconds.
The eruption caused nine deaths and injured 63 persons, with 31 sustaining severe injuries and 32 suffering minor injuries.
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Translator: Rubby Jovan P, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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