Mount Ili Lewotolok Volcanic Activity Increases, Loud Booms Heard

Volcanic activity at Mount Ili Lewotolok in Lembata Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, has increased. Nevertheless, the volcano’s status remains at Level II (Alert). Acting Head of the Geological Agency at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Lana Saria, stated in a report on Wednesday (8/7) that the increase in activity at Mount Ili Lewotolok was marked by a rise in the number of eruptions and puffing earthquakes from mid-June to early July 2026. “Based on visual and instrumental monitoring data, Mount Ili Lewotolok is showing an increase in volcanic activity, especially a significant rise in the number of eruption events. The activity level of Mount Ili Lewotolok remains at Level II (Alert),” said Lana Saria. She explained that during July 2026, the eruptive activity of Mount Ili Lewotolok was often accompanied by loud booming sounds that frequently rattled the walls and window glass of residents’ homes around the volcano. Seismic monitoring data for the period 1-30 June 2026 recorded a total of 1,746 eruption earthquakes, 2,198 puffing earthquakes, 45 rockfall earthquakes, 56 harmonic tremors, 55 non-harmonic tremors, 32 hybrid earthquakes, 11 shallow volcanic earthquakes, 124 deep volcanic earthquakes, 31 local tectonic earthquakes, and 41 distant tectonic earthquakes. Meanwhile, during the period 1-7 July 2026, there were 908 eruption earthquakes, 583 puffing earthquakes, 6 rockfall earthquakes, 13 harmonic tremors, 17 non-harmonic tremors, 5 hybrid earthquakes, 4 shallow volcanic earthquakes, 8 deep volcanic earthquakes, 5 local tectonic earthquakes, and 12 distant tectonic earthquakes. Visual observations from the Ili Lewotolok Volcano Observation Post showed white crater smoke with thin to thick intensity reaching 20-400 metres above the summit. The eruption column was observed reaching heights of 100-600 metres, white to grey in colour. In addition, officers also observed incandescent material ejected as far as 200-500 metres to the southeast and about 100 metres to the south. Although seismic energy has increased, its value remains below the seismic energy recorded throughout June 2026. Lana Saria urged residents, climbers, and tourists not to enter the area within a two-kilometre radius of Mount Ili Lewotolok’s activity centre. Residents were also asked to be aware of the potential for lava avalanches and pyroclastic flows in the southern, southeastern, western, and northeastern sectors of the volcano. “The public is advised not to panic if they hear rumbling or booming sounds from the crater of Mount Ili Lewotolok, as these sounds are characteristic of a volcano in an eruptive phase,” she said.