Mount Ili Lewotolok, which is located in Lembata Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, experienced another eruption on Thursday (3/12), in the early hours of the morning. The ash column was observed to be about 200 meters above the summit.
Based on the monitoring of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) which is located at the Ili Lewotolok Volcano Observation Post, the eruption occurred at 03:54 local time.
The ash column is observed to be gray with a thick intensity leaning towards the west. The eruption of the mountain with an altitude of 1,623 meters above sea level was recorded on a seismogram with an amplitude of 5 mm and a duration of 25 seconds.
“The eruption was accompanied by a weak roar and a fire beam approximately 20 meters above the crater peak,” Anselmus Bobyson Lamanepa wrote in a report also published by BNPB (3/12).
Based on data on December 2, 2002, at 22.00 WIT, the Lembata District Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) reported that 7,968 people were displaced. They are scattered in 19 points of shelter posts and residents’ houses.
Residents who are in the following shelter posts: the old regent’s office 1,366 people, SMPN I Nubatuan 873, hall of the camat office 653, Parak Walang 456, Desa Tapolangu 287, the hall of Central Lewoleba Village 279, Kopdit hall Ankara 169, Lamahora market booth 112, hall East Lewoleba Village 65, Selandoro 50 hall, GMIT Maranatha 64 hall and BKD PSDM hall 46.
Meanwhile, for those who are in residents’ houses, BPBD recorded 1,042 people in East Lewoleba, Selandoro 1,015, South Lewoleba 467, Lewoleba 347, Middle Lewaleba 286, West Lewoleba 286 and North Lewoleba 105.
Responding to the emergency response to the Mount Ili Lewotolok eruption, the Lembata Regency Government established an emergency response status for 14 days, starting from November 29, 2020 to December 12, 2020. This determination is contained in the Lembata Regent Decree Number 610 of 2020, dated November 30, 2020.
On the other hand, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) continues to provide assistance and monitor emergency handling on site. Head of BNPB Doni Monardo has visited Lembata Regency to see and give command in handling emergencies, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mount Ili Lewotolok erupted last Monday (30/11) at around 8:33 local time. The column height is observed 1,400 meters above the summit. Volcanic activities are still happening today, Thursday (3/12). Volcano status is at level III or ‘Alert.’
PVMBG recommends the community around Mount Ili Lewotolok and visitors, climbers or tourists not to hike or do activities in the danger zone in the crater area of ​​the mountain and all areas within a 4 km radius from the top of Mount Ili Lewotolok.
