Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Flores erupts again

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Flores, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), erupted again on Friday, with an ash column reaching approximately 500 metres above the summit, as reported by the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Acting Head of the Geological Agency, Lana Saria, stated in a release received in Jakarta on Friday that the eruption occurred at 07:24 WITA, with a medium-intensity grey ash column leaning towards the northeast.

The eruption was recorded on the seismogram of the Mount Lewotobi PGA with a maximum amplitude of 7.4 mm and a duration of about 2 minutes 47 seconds.

Nevertheless, Lana noted that Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki is still at Level II or alert status, with recommendations for the public and tourists not to engage in activities within a four-kilometre radius of the eruption centre.

In addition, residents are urged to remain calm, follow local government instructions, and not easily believe information from unclear sources.

Residents are also asked to be wary of the potential for rain-induced lahar floods in rivers originating from the mountain peak, especially in the areas of Dulipali, Padang Pasir, Nobo, Nurabelen, Klatanlo, Hokeng Jaya, Boru, and Nawakote during heavy rainfall.

For those affected by ash rain, the Geological Agency advises using masks or coverings for the nose and mouth to avoid respiratory issues.

Based on historical records, Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki has explosive eruption characteristics that produce incandescent material ejections, ash deposits, lava flows, and hot clouds, with eruption periods varying between one and 29 years.

The latest satellite monitoring data from the Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki Volcano Observatory Post (PGA) also shows a deflation or subsidence pattern of the volcano’s body, indicating no large magma supply from below.

The eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Flores with significant impacts occurred in November 2024 and March-October 2025.

The Geological Agency reported that the March 2025 eruption was a major one with an ash column reaching 8-10 kilometres, and activity continued until October 2025 with dozens of eruptions per week.

More than 500 families were evacuated and had to be relocated, as per studies by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and the Geological Agency, because their homes and surroundings were severely damaged by volcanic materials and were already in a high-risk eruption hazard zone.