Kupang (ANTARA) – The Ile Lewotolok Mount Observation Post (PPG) in Lembata Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), reported that the volcano’s eruptive activity remains high, so residents are asked not to carry out any activities within a two-kilometer radius of the center of activity, and within three kilometers in the southern and southeastern sectors.
Mount Ile Lewotolok observer Stanislaus Arakian, in an activity evaluation report for the period of 16-31 October 2026 received in Kupang on Saturday, stated that the volcano’s activity level remains at Level II, or Alert.
“Based on a comprehensive analysis and evaluation up to 31 October 2026, seismic and eruptive activity remain high,” the evaluation report stated.
Stanislaus explained that during the observation period there were 1,137 eruption earthquakes, 187 avalanche earthquakes, 1,632 emission earthquakes, and 53 deep volcanic earthquakes.
In addition, 58 non-harmonic tremors, seven harmonic tremors, 10 tornillo earthquakes, six shallow volcanic earthquakes, 26 local tectonic earthquakes, and 47 distant tectonic earthquakes were recorded.
Visually, the eruptive activity produced ash columns 100 to 500 meters high above the summit. The eruption columns were white to gray, while the crater smoke was observed to be white, with thin to thick intensity and reaching a height of up to 500 meters.
The activity was sometimes accompanied by rumbling sounds and thuds of weak to strong intensity. Officers also observed fire glow at the summit and incandescent material being ejected in all directions, still within the crater area.
Besides eruptions, lava avalanches were observed sliding up to 700 meters from the summit toward the southeast and 500 meters toward the south. During the evaluation period, no significant change was observed in the lava flow distance in both sector.
Instrumental monitoring showed that seismic activity continued to fluctuate, with eruption earthquakes dominating the seismic records. The increase in deep volcanic earthquakes indicates a process of rock fracturing caused by magma supply from greater depths toward shallower parts of the volcano’s body.
Meanwhile, deformation observations showed an alternating pattern of deflation and inflation of the volcano’s body. However, based on long-term observation, a tendency toward inflation, or swelling, is still visible.
To anticipate potential hazards, residents around the volcano, as well as visitors and tourists, are asked not to enter a two-kilometer radius from the center of activity and three kilometers in the southern and southeastern sectors.
Residents are also asked to be wary of the potential for lava avalanches or landslides and pyroclastic flows in the southern, southeastern, western, and northeastern sectors of the volcano.
In addition, residents are urged to wear masks to avoid respiratory problems caused by volcanic ash, to protect their eyes and skin, and to cover clean water storage containers so they are not contaminated by ash.
Residents living around valleys and river flows that originate at the summit of Ile Lewotolok are also asked to be wary of the potential for lahars, especially during the rainy season.
The Lembata Regency Government and the local Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) are asked to continue coordinating with the Mount Ile Lewotolok Observation Post in Laranwutun Village, Ile Ape District, as well as the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG).
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Translator: Kornelis Kaha, Fauzul Azhim Bin Fakhrurazi
Editor: Primayanti
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