January 19, 2026 | 10:22 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - On Monday morning, January 19, 2026, at 8:59 a.m. WITA (Central Indonesian Time), Mount Ile Lewotolok, located in Lembata Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Indonesia, erupted again. During the eruption, the 1,423-meter-high mountain spewed volcanic ash 500 meters high from the crater's summit.
The resulting vibrations had a maximum amplitude of 21.4 millimeters and lasted 75 seconds. "The ash column was observed to be gray to black in color with thick intensity, leaning eastward," said Stanislaus Ara Kian, an officer at the Ile Lewotolok Volcano Observation Post (PGA), in his report to the Geological Agency shortly after the incident.
Previously, at 6:18 a.m. WITA, the stratovolcano, or cone-shaped volcano, erupted, spewing volcanic ash 400 meters high from the crater's summit. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 19 millimeters and a duration of approximately 48 seconds.
In the past week, Mount Ile Lewotolok has recorded seven eruptions. Mount Ile Lewotolok now ranks as the third most active volcano in Indonesia, with 14 eruptions since the beginning of 2026. Mount Semeru is the most active volcano with 150 eruptions, followed by Mount Ibu in second place with 95 eruptions.
Head of the Geological Agency, Lana Saria, stated that her team raised the status of Mount Ile Lewotolok from Level II (Alert) to Level III (Standby) on Sunday, January 18, 2026. Lana urged local residents and climbers to refrain from entering areas within a 3-kilometer radius of the center of Mount Ile Lewotolok's volcanic activity.
"Be aware of the potential threat of lava avalanches and pyroclastic flows in the southern and southeastern sectors, western sectors, and northeastern sectors of Mount Ile Lewotolok," she said.
Read: Mount Ile Lewotolok Alert Raised to Level III Amid Rising Eruptions
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Mount Ile Lewotolok Alert Raised to Level III Amid Rising Eruptions
3 jam lalu
Indonesian Geological Agency raises the alert status of Mount Ile Lewotolok from Level II to Level III (Alert Status) on Sunday.
Mount Dukono and Mount Ile Lewotolok in Indonesia Erupted Today
10 Agustus 2025
Mount Dukono, located in the northern part of Halmahera Island, North Maluku, Indonesia erupted on Sunday, August 10, 2025.
Eruptions at Mount Ile Lewotolok Increase, But Seismic Energy Drops: PVMBG
18 Februari 2024
Mount Ile Lewotolok in East Nusa Tenggara experienced a significant increase in eruptions during the first half of February, PVMBG says.
PVMBG Warns of Possible Lava Flows after Mount Ile Lewotolok Eruption
5 Desember 2023
PVMBG appealed to people living near the foot of Mount Ile Lewotolok in NTT to be aware of the dangers of lava flows during the rainy season.
Mount Ile Lewotolok in NTT Erupted on Tuesday Morning
14 November 2023
The monitoring post on Mount Ile Lewotolok in Lembata Regency, NTT reported an eruption this morning.
Mount Ile Lewotolok Erupted; Wings Air Cancels Kupang-Lewoleba Flight
5 Mei 2023
Wings Air cancels flights for the Kupang-Lewoleba-Kupang route on Thursday due to the eruption of Mount Ile Lewotolok in NTT.
NTT's Ile Lewotolok Erupts, Spews Ash Cloud over a Kilometer High
1 Juli 2022
Mount Ile Lewotolok in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) erupts on Friday, July 1, creating a 1.3-kilometer-high ash cloud.
Mount Ile, Semeru, and Merapi Eruptions Not Interconnected: PVMBG
4 Desember 2020
PVMBG announces the eruption of Mount Ile in NTT is not interconnected with other volcanic eruptions of Mount Merapi and Mount Semeru.
5,800 Residents Evacuated due to Mount Ile Lewotolok Eruption
2 Desember 2020
More than 5,800 residents have been evacuated following the eruption of Mount Ile Lewotolok in Lembata, East Nusa Tenggara.
