March 20, 2025 Eruption of Lewotobi

The Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG) reported increased activity at Lewotobi Laki-laki during mid-March, culminating in a more intense phase on 20 March. Activity significantly increased during 13-20 March. Daily gray ash plumes continued to rise as high as 2.5 km above the summit, though the average height of plumes had increased. Harmonic tremor continued to fluctuate and the number of low-frequency earthquakes slightly increased. A tornillo-type earthquake was detected on 16 March. The number of deep volcanic earthquakes increased significantly during 19-20 March totaling 205 compared to the average of 3-6 events per day. Shallow volcanic earthquakes began to be detected on 20 March indicating rising magma. Eruptive activity continued to intensify; in response PVMBG raised the Alert Level to 4 (on a scale of 1-4) at 2230 on 20 March and increased the exclusion zone to a radius of 7 km from the center of Laki-laki and 8 km in a semicircle clockwise from the SW to the NE. BNPB reported that residents were evacuated from several villages during 19-20 March including Pululera Village (8 km NW), Dulipali Village (6 km NNW), Padang Pasir (5 km NW), Nobo (5 km NE), Klatanlo (3 km NW), Hokeng Jaya (4 km NW), Boru (8 km WNW), and Nawakote. According to news reports and BNPB, two people suffered from burns but there were no fatalities during the 20-21 March eruption; around 4,000 people that had evacuated months earlier remained in temporary housing. News articles also noted that 16 international flights to and from the Ngurah Rai International Airport were cancelled, others were delayed, and some domestic flights were postponed. (reference #14266)

Current Condition: Thursday, March 27, 2025 - 1 Seriously Injured Victim (Burns) died on Thursday, March 27, 2025 and 1 Seriously Injured Victim (Burns) is still receiving treatment at the hospital. 3,178 affected/displaced people and 823 affected families. (reference #14267)