Report on Lewotobi (Indonesia) — July 2003
Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, vol. 28, no. 7 (July 2003)
Managing Editor: Edward Venzke.
Lewotobi (Indonesia) June-July ash plumes reported by pilots
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 2003. Report on Lewotobi (Indonesia) (Venzke, E., ed.). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 28:7. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN200307-264180
Lewotobi
Indonesia
8.542°S, 122.775°E; summit elev. 1703 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
[No confirmation of these events was ever received (see Geological Summary for Lereboleng for more details). The high eruption plume of 29 July was also never confirmed. After a May 2025 review determined that these events were more likely from Lewotobi, this report was re-assigned.]
The Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) provided a series of pilot reports on Leroboleng. Confirmation from observers on the ground are pending.
At 1038 on 26 June 2003 aviators reportedly saw an ash plume rise to ~1.8 km altitude. An aircraft crew advised that the activity appeared to be increasing. Ash was not visible on satellite imagery. Another report stated that an ash plume was visible above Leroboleng at 1606 on 14 July at ~2.5 km altitude. Ash was not visible on satellite imagery and at that time VSI personnel could not observe the volcano. An alleged eruption on 29 July at 0900 lasted 10 minutes and sent an ash cloud to ~7.3 km altitude.
Geological Summary. The Lewotobi edifice in eastern Flores Island is composed of the two adjacent Lewotobi Laki-laki and Lewotobi Perempuan stratovolcanoes (the "husband and wife"). Their summits are less than 2 km apart along a NW-SE line. The conical Laki-laki to the NW has been frequently active during the 19th and 20th centuries, while the taller and broader Perempuan has had observed eruptions in 1921 and 1935. Small lava domes have grown during the 20th century in both of the summit craters, which are open to the north. A prominent cone, Iliwokar, occurs on the E flank of Perampuan.
Information Contacts: Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC), Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory Regional Office, PO Box 40050, Casuarina, NT 0811, Australia (URL: http://www.bom.gov.au/info/vaac/).