As communities in the Flores Islands are left displaced and grieving following a series of volcanic eruptions, the national tourism board, Wonderful Indonesia, has issued updated guidance on travel in the East Nusa Tenggara area.
The Flores Islands include world-famous destinations like the Komodo National Park, but for now, travel in this area is to be conducted on a needs-must basis.
While officials in Bali have confirmed that there is no public health risk in Bali Province following the volcanic eruption and billowing dust clouds, the advice shared by Wonderful Indonesia is important to take note of, especially for Bali travelers or travelers exploring Indonesia at any time.
Lest we forget, Bali is home to active volcanoes, too. Bali tourists who have traveled to Labuan Bajo, the Komodo National Park, or any destination in the East and West Nusa Tenggara Provinces should anticipate travel cancellations, re-routing, or delays in the coming weeks as Mount Lewotoi Laki Laki continues to erupt.
Updates posted on the site Volcano Discovery, a community-run volcano monitoring site, explained that lava flow continues to expert from Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki on Thursday, 14th November.
The post explains, “The elevated effusive-explosive eruption of the volcano goes on. Multiple lava flows continue to occupy nearly entire slopes of the edifice in all directions. From the latest optical Sentinel-2 acquisition, the most intense lava flow activity appears to be on the western-northwestern flank as a strong thermal anomaly is being detected approximately.”
The update concludes, “In order to mitigate the current risk, people are advised to avoid the area of 7 km from the crater. The volcano’s alert level remains at Level IV.”
Wonderful Indonesia has issued useful guidance on what to do in the event of volcanic eruptions, writing, “In light of the recent Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki eruption in East Nusa Tenggara, it’s a reminder of the dynamic power of Indonesia’s 68 active volcanos. Nestled within the Pacific Ring of Fire, these awe-inspiring landscapes offer unique adventures, but safety is essential.”
They add, “If you’re near an erupting volcano, it is critical to follow updates from official sources; you can monitor volcanic activity through the official website or social media account of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency (PVMBG) and the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).”
Most people have an idea as to what to do if they are in an earthquake situation, but a volcanic eruption requires a different set of response procedures.
Wonderful Indonesia explains what to do in the event of an eruption: “Quickly informed action is key during an eruption. Protect yourself and others with these steps: evacuate immediately when instructed, wear long clothing, masks, and goggles for ash protection.”
The advice continues “stay indoors during ash fall, seal windows and seek designated safe zones, follow official updates closely, and avoid river valleys and low-lying areas to minimize lahar exposure.”
For tourists currently in the Flores Islands, a dedicated hub has been set up to support tourists impacted by the eruptions, including support on how to travel to neighboring provinces such as Bali.
Ferry schedules in the Flores Islands, including those traveling to Bali, have also been adjusted due to the ongoing eruption.
Wonderful Indonesia explains, “The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority (BPOLBF) have set up the Tourism Information Center as a crisis hub for tourists affected by the Mount Lewotobi eruption.”
“Contact them via WhatsApp (08.30 – 16.40 WITA) or visit the BPOLBF Office in Labuan Bajo for 24-hour assistance.” The WhatsApp number is +62 811-3879-4555.
Travelers planning to visit Indonesia should be sure to invest in fully compressive travel insurance before traveling to the country.
Travel insurance policies should also include coverage in the event of a natural disaster, and travelers should pay special attention to what is and is not covered in the event of a volcano eruption, earthquake, tsunami, or flooding.
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