Hence, people, who live around the river, which flows from the top of the mountain, should stay vigilant of the threat of cold lava.
Kupang, NTT (ANTARA) - The volcanic activity of Mount Ile Lewotolok in Lembata District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, increased, as the volcano shot up eruption smoke that reached about 1,000 meters high on June 12, 2022.

"Eruptions have begun due to an increase in volcanic activity as compared to the result of the last monitoring evaluation on June 8, 2022," Head of the Mount Ile Lewotolok Monitoring Post, Stanis Ara Kian, stated in Lewoleba Village, Nubatukan Sub-district, Lembata District, on Monday.

Kian noted that during the period from 6 p.m. to 12 p.m. Central Indonesian Standard Time (WITA, which is UTC+8) on June 12, 2022, the volcano experienced one eruption quake, 74 phreatic tremors, and 24 non-harmonic shocks.

Furthermore, Kian expressed concern over a huge accumulation of lava at the crater of the mountain.

If the crater is full, the overflowing lava will endanger several villages at the foot of the mountain.

Based on the analysis and evaluation conducted on June 8, 2022, the activity of Mount Ile Lewotolok was still at Level III (Watch), the monitoring post head noted.

Hence, all people living around the volcano are urged to not conduct activities within a three-kilometer (km) radius of the eruption centre, except for the Southeast sector, with the safe zone being a 3.5-km radius from the crater, as well as the East and Northeast sectors, whose safe zone is designated at four km from the crater.

Villagers in Jontona, Lamawolo, and Lamatokan in Ile Ape Sub-district, Lembata District, are required to stay vigilant of the potential threat of incandescent lava and hot clouds from the eastern sector of the crater.

Furthermore, Kian also noted that heavy rains with high intensity had lashed several locations in the last few days.

"Hence, people, who live around the river, which flows from the top of the mountain should stay vigilant of the threat of cold lava," he added.
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Translator: Kornelis Kaha, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
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