Lembata’s Ile Lewotolok erupts 1,873 times over five days

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Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) – Ile Lewotolok Volcano in Lembata District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), was recorded to experience 1,873 eruptions during the observation period of September 1-5, 2026.

Ile Lewotolok Volcano observer Stanislaus Arakian on Sunday said that during this period, the volcano was observed experiencing several eruptions, with eruption heights reaching 200-700 meters from the summit.

“The ash column from the eruptions was white, gray, and even black,” Arakian informed.

Officials also observed avalanches with a distance of up to 700 meters from the summit, heading southeast.

Visual observations showed Mount Ile Lewotolok was clearly visible before becoming obscured by fog at Level 0-II. White smoke from the main crater rose about 20–500 meters above the summit, with intensity ranging from thin to thick.

In addition to 1,873 eruption earthquakes, seismic activity also recorded one avalanche earthquake with an amplitude of 40 mm and a duration of 85 seconds.

Furthermore, 663 gust earthquakes were recorded with an amplitude of 3.3-40 mm and a duration of 17-85 seconds, and 14 harmonic earthquakes with an amplitude of 5.5-40 mm and a duration of 80-209 seconds.

The observing team also recorded 221 non-harmonic tremors with an amplitude of 3.3-40 mm and a duration of 77-503 seconds.

Meanwhile, six hybrid or multiphase earthquakes were recorded with amplitudes of 6.6-22.1 mm, S-P of 1.1-2.5 seconds, and durations of 12-21 seconds.

Furthermore, four shallow volcanic earthquakes were detected with amplitudes of 8.8-40 mm and durations of 8-14 seconds, while six deep volcanic earthquakes were recorded with amplitudes of 6.6-40 mm, S-P of 0.5-2.39 seconds, and durations of 8-12 seconds.

In addition, three distant tectonic earthquakes occurred with amplitudes of 16.6-33.2 mm, S-P of 17-28 seconds, and durations of 48-86 seconds.

Regarding the eruption of Mount Ile Lewotolok at 6:41 a.m. on Sunday with a height reaching 600 meters, Arakian said the video was taken by a guide near the crater, making the eruption appear higher.

The latest eruption occurred at 9:35 p.m., with an ash column observed at less than 500 meters above the summit, or approximately 1,923 meters above sea level.

The ash column was observed to be gray with a thick intensity, leaning south and west. This eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 40 mm and a duration of approximately 32 seconds.