According to Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the administration of East Flores regency in East Nusa Tenggara province has announced a state of emergency following the elevation of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki’s alert level to the highest category on Friday.
The Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation observed a notable surge in volcanic activity from March 13 to March 20, characterized by an increase in volcanic earthquakes and the emergence of eruption columns. A significant eruption took place at 23:56 local time on Thursday, with the ash column reaching an estimated height of 8,000 meters above the summit, approximately 9,584 meters above sea level.
This eruption has disrupted air travel, resulting in numerous international flight cancellations. According to the management of I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali, seven international flights were canceled between 09:45 and 16:00 local time on Friday. Furthermore, five international flights faced delays, although domestic flights have not yet been affected by cancellations.
“As an anticipatory measure, the East Flores regency government declared an emergency response status for the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, which is valid for 14 days from March 20 to April 2,” Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency’s official press release said.
A total of 389 people were evacuated on Wednesday from villages at risk of being impacted by eruptions, he said. According to BNPB data, around 4,000 residents remained displaced since the first eruption on November 4, 2024.
According to the provincial disaster management and mitigation agency, the total number of evacuees in the regency has reached 4,796.
The BNPB has urged the public to remain calm and avoid misinformation regarding the eruption. Residents within a 7 km radius of the volcano, as well as those within 8 km in the southwest and northeast sectors, have been advised to evacuate immediately. The BNPB also warned against the potential for rain lava floods due to volcanic material carried by water when it rains.
