Ile Lewotolok Erupts Again, Lava Flow Scorches Vegetation on Mountain Slopes

Mount Ile Lewotolok in Lembata Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), erupted again this morning. The heat from the lava flow has burnt vegetation on the mountain slopes through which it passed.

A local resident, Niko Ake, stated that the vegetation fire caused by the lava flow from Mount Ile Lewotolok has also produced thick plumes of smoke. According to him, the smoke is clearly visible from the Jontona Village area in Lembata, NTT.

“The smoke, mist, and other effects are directly facing Jontona Village,” said Niko when confirmed on Tuesday (29/09/2026).

Niko also shared video footage showing thick smoke resulting from the fire. Several residents in Jontona Village were also seen looking towards Mount Ile Lewotolok, which was covered in smoke.

The officer at the Ile Lewotolok Volcanic Observatory, Yeremias Kristanto Puge, confirmed the vegetation fire caused by the lava flow. He stated that Mount Ile Lewotolok erupted again at 10:23 WITA, with an ash column height of approximately 500 metres above the peak.

“Lava flows are burning vegetation around the flow path,” said Yeremias.

“This eruption was recorded on the seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 40 millimetres and a duration of approximately 1 minute,” he added.