Indonesia Expands Danger Zone for Mount Lewotobi Eruption to Nine Kilometres.


East Flores: The eruption danger zone radius of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, has been expanded to nine kilometres in the southwest-northwest sector and seven kilometres from the crater’s peak, Indonesian news agency (ANTARA) reported.

According to Emirates News Agency, 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 from 7th to 9th November 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 kilometres from the summit.

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