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Lewotobi

For the language, see Lewotobi language.
Lewotobi
Mount Lewotobi, photographed in c. 1915
Highest point
Elevation1,703 m (5,587 ft)
(Lewotobi Perempuan)
1,584 m (5,197 ft)
(Lewotobi Laki-laki)
Prominence1,398 m (4,587 ft)
ListingRibu
Coordinates8°33′6″S 122°46′50″E / 8.55167°S 122.78056°E / -8.55167; 122.78056
Geography
Geology
Mountain typeStratovolcanoes
Volcanic arcSunda Arc
Last eruption21 August 2025

Lewotobi is a twin volcano located in the southeastern part of the island of Flores, Indonesia. It has two peaks: the Lewotobi Laki-laki (Male Lewotobi) and Lewotobi Perempuan (Female Lewotobi) stratovolcanoes and a prominent flank cone, Lewotobi Iliwokar, lies on the eastern flank of Lewotobi Perampuan. The more active Lewotobi Laki-laki is about 2.1 km (1.3 mi) northwest of the taller Lewotobi Perempuan.

Older forms of its name include Lobetabi,[1] Lovotivo[1] and Loby Toby.[2]

Cultural and Nomenclature Notes

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The names Lewotobi Laki-laki and Lewotobi Perempuan reflect local traditions, with the volcanoes regarded as a symbolic pair, often described as "husband and wife." Older names for the complex include Lobetabi, Lovotivo, and Loby Toby.[3]

Geology

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Lewotobi's twin peaks are classic stratovolcanoes, formed by successive layers of lava, ash, and volcanic debris. The volcanoes are part of the Lesser Sunda Islands volcanic arc, which is shaped by the subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate. The region is seismically active, with frequent tectonic and volcanic earthquakes.[4][3]

Crater Dimensions

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Lewotobi Laki-laki: ~400 m wide

Lewotobi Perempuan: ~700 m wide[3]

Eruptive Material: Primarily andesite[4]

Eruptions

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Satellite picture of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki eruption on 5 November 2024.

2023

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An eruption has been ongoing since 23 December in Lewotobi Laki-laki, displacing up to 6,500 people as of January 2024.[5]

2024

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NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of the November 8, 2024 eruption of Mt. Lewotobi on Flores, Indonesia.

On 4 November, the volcano spewed molten debris at several villages some 4 km (2.5 mi) away, destroying homes and killing nine people.[6][7] The Centre of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation recommended that a 7 km (4.3 mi) radius around the volcano be evacuated.[8] Seven villages were affected by the eruption.[9] A larger eruption occurred on 7 November.[10] On 8 November, the volcano erupted several times, at one time bearing an ash plume with a height reaching 10 km (6.2 mi).[11] On 9 November, it erupted again, and the authorities scrambled to evacuate approximately 16,000 people from nearby villages.[12] The eruption caused flight disruptions in Bali and the cancellation of a jazz festival in Labuan Bajo.[13]

2025

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On 21 March, Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted, sending ash clouds over 8 km (5.0 mi) high. Authorities raised the alert to the highest level, and Jetstar canceled some flights to Bali. The eruption followed smaller ones since 13 March. One person was injured during the evacuations, although the details reported were unclear. Bali airport remained open, but seven international flights were canceled. The geological agency warned of lava floods and continued activity.[14][15]

Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted again on 18 May, prompting authorities to raise Indonesia's highest volcanic alert level.[16]

Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted on 17 June, sending ash clouds 11 km (6.8 mi) high, prompting authorities to raise Indonesia's highest volcanic alert level again, with a plume visible from a distance of 90 km (56 mi) to 150 km (93 mi).[17][18][19] Multiple flights were cancelled due to the amount volcanic ash released into the atmosphere.[20]

Two major eruptions occurred on 7 July, ejecting debris as far as 8 km (5.0 mi) away and producing pyroclastic flows that reached 5 km (3.1 mi) from the crater and an ash cloud 13 km (8.1 mi) high. At least 24 flights were cancelled in Bali.[21] One person was injured after being hit by a motorcycle during evacuations, and another person was hospitalized due to shortage of breath.[22] Further eruptions occurred on 8 July[23] and 1 August.[24] An eruption happened again on 2 August sending volcanic material 18 kilometres (11 miles) into the air, however no casualties have been reported.[25] Tremors from the eruption have been recorded on seismic monitors, with the eruption being one of Indonesia's biggest since Mount Merapi's eruption in 2010.[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Flores", Encyclopaedia Britannica, vol. IX (9th ed.), 1878, p. 337.
  2. ^ In the story "The Disturber of Traffic" by Rudyard Kipling. See The Disturber of Traffic. Notes on the text., The Kipling Society, 18 March 2008
  3. ^ a b c "Global Volcanism Program | Lewotobi". Smithsonian Institution | Global Volcanism Program. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  4. ^ a b "Flores and the Lewotobi eruption". VolcanoCafe. 2024-11-04. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
  5. ^ "Indonesia evacuates about 6,500 people on the island of Flores after a volcano spews clouds of ash". Associated Press. 15 January 2024. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  6. ^ Pati Herin, Fransiskus (4 November 2024). "10 orang tewas dan puluhan bangunan terbakar akibat erupsi gunung lewotobi laki laki". Kompas.id (in Indonesian).
  7. ^ "Indonesia volcano erupts again after killing nine day earlier". France 24. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  8. ^ "Volcano erupts in eastern Indonesia, killing 9". South China Morning Post. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  9. ^ "At least 10 dead after volcano erupts in Indonesia". BBC. Archived from the original on 4 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  10. ^ "Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupts for the second time in a week". Associated Press. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Indonesian volcano spews ash 10 km high, thousands evacuate". Reuters. 8 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi erupts again, government to widen restricted zone". Reuters. 9 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Bali flights cancelled due to dangerous volcanic ash". BBC. 13 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano erupts, prompting alert level to be raised". AP News. 21 March 2025.
  15. ^ "Indonesia's Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano erupts; some Bali flights cancelled".
  16. ^ "Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki Volcano in Indonesia Reaches Highest Activity Alert Level". Discover Magazine. 10 May 2025.
  17. ^ "Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki spews 11 kilometre high ash cloud after eruption". Reuters. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  18. ^ "Alert raised to the highest level after Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano erupts". AP News. 2025-06-17. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  19. ^ "Eruption of Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano creates ash plume visible 90 miles away". AP News. 2025-06-17. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  20. ^ "Dozens of Bali flights cancelled after Indonesia volcano erupts". CNA. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
  21. ^ "Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano erupts and sends searing-hot ash miles high". AP News. 7 July 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  22. ^ "Panik Saat Erupsi Gunung Lewotobi Laki-laki, Warga Flotim NTT Alami Kecelakaan". Tribunnews. 21 March 2025.
  23. ^ "Residents wear masks as volcanic ash blankets villages near erupting Indonesian volcano". AP News. 8 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  24. ^ "Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupts". The Straits Times. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  25. ^ a b "Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupts again, spewing giant ash plumes miles away". The Associated Press. 2 August 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.

Bibliography

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lewotobi.