On 5 January the Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG) issued a press release for Lewotolok describing a minor increase in unrest. The seismic network recorded a significant increase in the number of both shallow and deep volcanic earthquakes during December. Typically, one shallow volcanic earthquake and 1-5 deep volcanic earthquakes occurred per day; in December there were a total of 43 shallow and 183 deep volcanic earthquakes. Minor inflation was detected in both tiltmeter and Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) data, but the changes were not significant. During 1 December 2024-4 January 2025 white plumes of variable densities rose as high as 400 m above the summit and drifting in multiple directions. On 5 January a white-and-gray plume rose 20-100 m above the summit and drifted SE. The color of the plume was likely from material from inside the crater or the crater wall being entrained with a gas emission. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4) and the public was warned to stay 2 km away from the vent and 2.5 km away on the S, SE, and W flanks.

Geological Summary. The Lewotolok (or Lewotolo) stratovolcano occupies the eastern end of an elongated peninsula extending north into the Flores Sea, connected to Lembata (formerly Lomblen) Island by a narrow isthmus. It is symmetrical when viewed from the north and east. A small cone with a 130-m-wide crater constructed at the SE side of a larger crater forms the volcano's high point. Many lava flows have reached the coastline. Eruptions recorded since 1660 have consisted of explosive activity from the summit crater.

Source: Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG, also known as CVGHM)