"Yes, the Frans Seda airport is being temporarily closed," head of the Data, Information, and Communication Center of BNPB, Abdul Muhari, stated in a press conference on Monday.
His side along with the NTT provincial government and the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will coordinate with the Ministry of Transportation regarding the period of the airport's closure.
"Further information will be conveyed by the Transportation Ministry," Muhari remarked.
In addition, three other airports were closed due to the eruption: H Hasan Aroeboesman Airport in Ende District, Soa Bajawa Airport, and Gewayantana Larantuka Airport.
He noted that until 10:20 local time, officers had recorded 10 fatalities. Nine people have been evacuated by the Search and Rescue (SAR) team, and one is still missing.
The missing victim was allegedly buried in the house debris due to the volcanic material at a radius of four kilometers from the eruption peak.
Furthermore, the BNPB confirmed that 2,735 families, or 10,295 people, were evacuated due to the eruption. They are residents of 14 villages in the administrative area of Ile Bura, Titehena, and Wulanggitang, East Flores.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted on Monday at 2:48 local time. This eruption is recorded on a seismogram, with a maximum amplitude of 17 millimeters, and duration of approximately three minutes and five seconds.
The danger zone limit for community activities is at a radius of seven kilometers from the peak of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki whose status was announced to increase from level III to level IV by the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources on Monday morning.
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Translator: M. Riezko Bima E, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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