Kupang (ANTARA) - The Volcano Observation Post (PGA) Ile Lewotolok in Ile Ape Sub-District, Lembata District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), reported 94 gusts of earthquakes on Friday (May 10) at around 00:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. local time.

"There were 94 gusts of earthquakes at the peak of Mount Lewotolok," the compiler of the report on observations of the mount, Fajaruddin M. Balido, stated here on Friday.

He explained that the 94 earthquake gusts produced an amplitude of around 3.3 to 15.7 millimeters for around 31 to 272 seconds.

In addition, six non-harmonic tremors also occurred with an amplitude of 5.4 to 7.8 millimeters and lasted approximately 315 to 657 seconds.

He stated that visually, the mountain was clearly visible, and the crater smoke was white with thin, medium, and high intensity, as high as 100 to 300 meters above the top of the crater.

Balido remarked that the mountain's status was still at Level III, or Alert. Meanwhile, the weekly report submitted by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) stated that volcanic activity on the mountain had increased.

During the observation period of May 1-7, 2024, the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) recorded 220 shallow volcanic earthquakes and 153 deep volcanic earthquakes.

This number has increased as compared to the previous one-week observation period, on April 23-30, 2024, which recorded 22 shallow volcanic earthquakes and 90 deep volcanic earthquakes.

Hence, the Geological Agency has urged people of the villages of Lamatokan and Jontona to be alert to the potential threat of lava avalanches and hot clouds from the eastern part of the mountain peak or crater.

Meanwhile, residents of Jontona and Todanara villages are advised to not enter the southern and southeastern sector areas three kilometers from the center of mountain activity.

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Translator: Kornelis Kaha, Katriana,
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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