Mount Ili Lewotolok in Lembata Erupts 130 Times in a Single Day
The activity of Mount Ili Lewotolok in Lembata Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, remains significantly elevated.
During a 24-hour observation period on Sunday, 8 March, a total of 130 eruptions were recorded from the volcano, which stands 1,423 metres above sea level.
Officials at the Mount Ili Lewotolok Observation Post, Yeremias Kristianto Pugel, reported that the eruptions produced volcanic columns approximately 100 metres in height from the crater summit, with smoke ranging in colour from white to grey.
“130 eruptions were observed, each with columns of approximately 100 metres from the crater summit, with white and grey smoke,” Yeremias stated in a report issued on Monday, 9 March.
Visually, the volcano remained clearly visible, though occasionally obscured by light mist. Crater smoke was observed to be white in colour, with light to moderate intensity and a height of approximately 50 metres above the summit.
In addition to eruptive activity, observations indicated lava flows directed towards the southern and south-eastern sectors of Mount Ili Lewotolok, extending approximately 500 metres from the crater rim.
From a seismological perspective, 130 eruption earthquakes were recorded with amplitudes of 14–36.6 millimetres and durations of 35–63 seconds.
Additionally, 231 blast earthquakes occurred with amplitudes of 1.3–10.1 millimetres and durations of 20–42 seconds. Officials also recorded two non-harmonic tremors with amplitudes of 2.3–7.4 millimetres and two deep volcanic earthquakes with amplitudes of 3.3–3.9 millimetres.
Weather conditions in the vicinity of the volcano during the observation period varied between clear, cloudy, and rainy. Winds were light to moderate, blowing towards the east, with air temperatures ranging between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius.
Despite ongoing activity, Mount Ili Lewotolok maintains a status of Alert Level II (Advisory).
Authorities have advised both residents and visitors to refrain from entering an area within a two-kilometre radius of the volcano’s centre of activity.
The public has also been cautioned regarding the potential for lava flows and pyroclastic flows in the southern, south-eastern, western, and north-eastern sectors of the mountain.
Residents living in the vicinity of the volcano are advised to wear protective masks covering the mouth and nose, as well as additional protective equipment to shield the eyes and skin from volcanic ash exposure. They should also ensure water storage facilities are covered to prevent contamination.
Local government and residents are urged to maintain continued coordination with the Mount Ili Lewotolok Observation Post in Laranwutun Village, Ile Ape District, and the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) to obtain up-to-date information regarding volcanic activity.