PVMBG Urges Residents to Wear Masks During Mount Lewotobi Ashfall

The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) has urged communities affected by ashfall from the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, to wear masks or nose and mouth coverings to avoid respiratory disturbances.

“Communities affected by the ashfall from Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki should wear masks or coverings for the nose and mouth to avoid the dangers of volcanic ash to the respiratory system,” said M. Nurjansyah Dwi Laksona, an officer at the Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki Monitoring Post, in a volcanic activity report received in Kupang on Sunday.

The advisory follows an eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki that occurred on Sunday at 09:23 WITA, with an observed ash column height of approximately 1,500 metres above the peak.

PVMBG reported a thick, grey ash column moving towards the west and northwest. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 2_9.6 millimetres and a duration of approximately one minute and 44 seconds.

Residents are also advised to remain calm, follow local government directives, and avoid believing unverified information from unclear sources.

PVMBG further warned citizens to be vigilant regarding the potential for rain-induced lahar floods in rivers originating from the peak of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki during periods of high-intensity rainfall, particularly in the areas of Dulipali, Padang Pasir, Nobo, Nurabelen, Klatanlo, Hokeng Jaya, Boru, and Nawakote.

Local governments have been requested to maintain continuous coordination with the Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki Observation Post in Pululera Village, Wulanggitang District, East Flores Regency, as well as with PVMBG in Bandung, to monitor the volcano’s ongoing activity.

Eruptions with ash columns reaching 1,500 metres have occurred frequently over the last few days, indicating an increase in the volcano’s eruptive intensity recently.