Mount Lewotobi, towering over Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province, erupted once more on Wednesday, sending residents and authorities into heightened alert. The volcano spewed ash and volcanic materials, significantly deteriorating air quality in the region.
A thick, gray column of ash soared up to three kilometers high, dispersing west and southwest of the crater, according to the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center. Despite downgrading the Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation to an orange level\u2014the second-highest alert\u2014planes were still prohibited from flying at altitudes below five kilometers around the volcano.
“Continuous eruptions since November 4 have worsened air quality, causing respiratory issues among several residents,” said Richard Felt, a senior official from the provincial disaster management agency. “Although the ash and volcanic materials haven’t directly reached residents and evacuees, they have significantly degraded air quality. We anticipated this and distributed face masks, recommending people to use them.”
Evacuation centers, now housing approximately 12,000 evacuees, have been equipped with essential supplies and health posts to address the impacts of poor air quality. Authorities are also on high alert for potential lava floods during heavy rainfall. Several high-risk areas have been identified, and residents have been warned to avoid these zones.
Standing at 1,584 meters, Mount Lewotobi is one of Indonesia’s 127 active volcanoes, and its recent activity underscores the ever-present volcanic risks in the region.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
