Xinhua – Mount Lewotobi, located in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province, erupted yesterday, triggering a flight warning and safety advisories, the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre said, according to Xinhua.
The eruption released a column of ash up to 3,500 metres (m) into the sky, and the thick grey cloud moved westward and northwestward of the crater.
To mitigate risks posed by the volcanic ash, a Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation has been issued at the orange level, the second-highest warning, banning planes from flying below 5,000m in the vicinity of Mount Lewotobi. Aircraft should also exercise caution regarding the presence of volcanic ash, which can disturb their flights.
To protect the residents living on the slope of the volcano from the risks of hot clouds and volcanic materials, the centre issued safety advisories. Residents, tourists, and visitors were told not to engage in any activities within a radius of six kilometres from the volcano.
