Jakarta (VNA) – The Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources' Geological Agency has warned three villages in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, of the risk of cold lava floods in rivers originating at Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki's peak.
The agency's head Muhammad Wafid said on November 20 that the agency's volcanology and disaster mitigation team has urged people against conducting any activities in the three villages and their surrounding areas due to the threat of flooding.
Earlier the same day, the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a warning of potential cold lava floods from Mount Lewotobo Laki-laki, in the wake of rainstorms in Timor Island and the districts of East Flores, Manggarai, West Manggarai, Ngada, and Sikka.
BMKG's Head Dwikorita Karnawati called on regional governments and residents living near Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki to exercise caution and anticipate lava floods by staying away from the banks of rivers originating from the highly active volcano.
According to the BMKG, the rainy season has been forecast to arrive in the regions near Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in early December. This condition might worsen the risk of cold lava floods sweeping through the slopes of the mountain./.
