Kelimutu Crater Wall Collapses, Emitting Thick Smoke

A landslide occurred on the crater wall of Lake Kelimutu in Ende, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Tuesday (4/8/2026), producing thick smoke. Video footage of the landslide at the Kelimutu crater went viral on social media.

The Head of the Kelimutu Volcano Observation Post, Vinsensius Tuku, confirmed the incident. “It is true that a landslide occurred at the Kelimutu crater,” Vinsensius stated when contacted on Tuesday.

Vinsensius explained that based on field monitoring and witness accounts, the event took place at 08:40 WITA. “This incident was also recorded on our seismograph at the Kelimutu Volcano Post,” he added.

Vinsensius noted that the landslide occurred on the crater wall of Lake Tiwi Ko’ofai Nuwamuri. He confirmed that the other two crater lakes remain in a safe condition.

Mount Kelimutu, located in Ende Regency, NTT, is a popular tourist destination renowned for its three distinctively coloured crater lakes. The three lakes are Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of the Elderly), Tiwu Nuamuri Ko’o Fai (Lake of Young Men and Maidens), which often appears turquoise or light blue, and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched Lake), whose water frequently changes colour to red, dark brown, or black.