Eruption of Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi: Alert Level Raised
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Synopsis
Mount Lewotobi in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, has erupted, prompting the highest alert level. The eruption released ash reaching 8,000 metres, leading to expanded danger zones and aviation warnings. Residents are advised to wear masks and remain cautious of possible lava floods following heavy rain.
Key Takeaways
- Mount Lewotobi erupted, raising the alert to Level IV.
- Ash plume reached 8,000 metres high.
- Danger zones increased significantly.
- Aviation warnings issued for flights.
- Community safety measures recommended.
Jakarta, March 21 (NationPress) Mount Lewotobi, situated in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province, has erupted, leading the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation to elevate the alert level to its maximum status. The eruption produced an ash column that soared up to 8,000 metres high just before midnight on Thursday. The dark ash cloud drifted southwest and west from the crater. This vigorous eruption persisted into Friday morning, with ash reaching 2,500 metres. Thick gray clouds moved westward from the volcano.
The alert status of the volcano has been raised to Level IV, the highest level, since Thursday.
A Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation has been issued at a red level since Thursday, restricting aircraft from flying below 6,000 metres in the surrounding area of the volcano. Pilots are advised to be vigilant regarding potential volcanic ash, which poses a risk to aviation, according to Xinhua news agency.
Since Thursday, the danger zones have expanded from 7 km to 8 km in the southwest and northwest of the crater, while other regions have increased from 5 km to 7 km.
The center has released safety guidelines, recommending that communities near Mount Lewotobi remain alert for the possibility of rain-induced lava floods in rivers that originate from the slopes of the volcano during heavy rainfall.
Residents in areas affected by volcanic ash are advised to wear masks to guard against respiratory issues.
Mount Lewotobi, standing at 1,584 metres, is one of Indonesia's 127 active volcanoes.
Indonesia, an archipelago with a population of 270 million, is prone to seismic activity. It has 120 active volcanoes and is located along the “Ring of Fire,” a horseshoe-shaped formation of seismic fault lines surrounding the Pacific Basin.
Indonesia lies at the convergence of several significant tectonic plates: the Eurasian, Australian, and Pacific plates.
The nation has witnessed some of the most catastrophic and potent eruptions globally, such as the Mount Tambora eruption in 1815, emphasizing the country's susceptibility to volcanic dangers.
