TEMPO.CO, Bandung - The Geological Agency reported an eruption of Mount Lewotobi in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Tuesday afternoon, June 17, 2025. "An eruption of Mount Lewotobi, Nusa Tenggara Timur, occurred on June 17, 2025, at 17:35 WITA (Central Indonesian Time), with an observed ash column height of approximately 10,000 meters above the peak (around 11,584 meters above sea level)," the agency said on Tuesday.
The eruption of Mount Lewotobi was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 47.3 millimeters, lasting approximately 6 minutes and 53 seconds. The event was accompanied by eruptive pyroclastic flows spreading in all directions. According to the Geological Agency, "The eruption is still ongoing as this report is being made."
Prior to this severe eruption, the Geological Agency had raised Mount Lewotobi's activity status to Level IV (Awas/Alert) at 3:00 p.m. WITA.
"Visual and instrumental analysis results indicate that the activity of Mount Lewotobi has increased, leading to its activity level being raised from Level III (Siaga/Watch) to Level IV (Awas/Alert) effective June 17, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. WITA," announced Muhammad Wafid, Head of the Geological Agency, in his statement.
Wafid explained that seismic data provided clear signs of an impending explosive eruption. "Seismic data shows a significant increase in shallow volcanic earthquakes. While these typically occur only 8-10 times per day on average, on June 17, 2025, there were 50 events within a mere two-hour span," he elaborated.
Meanwhile, the Geological Agency's seismic data from June 16, 2025, to June 17, 2025 (up to 2:00 p.m. WITA) recorded five blast earthquakes, 18 non-harmonic tremors, three low-frequency earthquakes, three hybrid earthquakes, 52 deep volcanic earthquakes, and seven distant tectonic earthquakes.
Wafid further noted that tiltmeter and GPS data also indicated a pattern of inflation anomalies within the volcano. "Tiltmeter and GPS deformation data show signs of inflation, and InSAR data also indicate inflation anomalies. This signifies pressure from within the volcano, which has the potential to cause an eruption," he explained.
He stated that signs of a potential explosive eruption were also observed from the morphology of Mount Lewotobi's crater. "The crater's visual appearance on May 24, 2025, appeared elongated in the northwest-southeast direction and exhibited lava material filling the crater, with a black color covering an area of about 87,000 square meters. This area has not increased since, suggesting that if an eruption occurs, it has the potential to be explosive," he said.
With the status at Level IV, several recommendations are crucial. "Residents and tourists are advised not to conduct activities within a radius of 7 kilometers and an 8-kilometer southwest-northeast sector from the eruption center. They should remain calm and strictly follow instructions from local authorities," he advised.
Residents in the vicinity of Mount Lewotobi's vulnerable areas are also urged to be aware of the potential for lahars in the event of heavy rainfall, particularly in the river areas originating from the mountain, including Dulipali, Nobo, Hokeng Jaya, and Nurabelen.
"Residents affected by ashfall are advised to use masks or cover their noses and mouths to protect their respiratory tracts," Wafid concluded.
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