However, Gunawan stated that the public should comply with the safe radius recommendation.
Wulanggitang, East Nusa Tengga (ANTARA) - Head of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG), Hendra Gunawan, stated that the volcanic activity of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), continues to decline.

"Eruption activity is still occurring, with relatively decreasing volcanic earthquakes. Even though the activity has begun to decrease, we are still monitoring it until it is really safe for us," Gunawan stated in East Flores on Tuesday.

He explained that the Lewotobi Laki-Laki eruption began with the ejection of volcanic ash and then followed by the flowing lava and rocks from the crater.

Gunawan remarked that the flowing lava should be the last phase of the eruption.

However, he reminded all parties to remain patient with the mountain's status that is currently at Level III, or Alert.

In addition, the decline in the status of the mountain would not occur immediately, but rather, the focus will be on adhering to the principle of caution and prioritizing community safety, he affirmed.

"We are prioritizing caution for our common safety and security," he remarked.

Based on visual and seismic evaluations conducted on January 23-29, 2024, his side recorded that the height of the eruption column decreased on average, from 1,500 meters above the peak to 500 meters.

Furthermore, the movement of lava flow towards the northeast was observed to slow down and the number of eruption earthquakes decreased, from 15 to 25 earthquakes per day to three to five earthquakes per day, Gunawan pointed out.

Moreover, the sliding distance of hot avalanche clouds, which earlier reached two kilometers, is now one kilometer, and the SO2 value has decreased quite significantly, thereby indicating that the magma supply has decreased.

Based on this evaluation, the PVMBG has lowered the status of mountain activity, from Level IV to Level III, or Alert, as of January 29, 2024, at 12:00 local time.

However, Gunawan stated that the public should comply with the safe radius recommendation. He urged the public to not conduct activities in a four-kilometer radius from the center of the eruption and also in a four-kilometer sector in the north-northeast direction as well as six kilometers in the north-east sector.

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Translator: Fransiska Mariana N, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Arie Novarina
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