Lumajang, E Java (ANTARA News) - Hundreds of climbers held a flag-raising ceremony marking the 72nd anniversary of Indonesian Independence on the 3,676-meter-high Mount Semeru in Lumajang, East Java, on Thursday.

"Ranu Pani, Ranu Kumbolo, and Kalimati, serving as the final stops of the trekking route, are the three sites used for the flag-raising ceremony," Agung Siswoyo, chief of the Ranupani resort of the management office of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, stated here on Thursday.

He noted that several officers were on standby at the three points, as the number of climbers celebrating the Independence Day was quite large.

The number of climbers has reached the daily quota of 500-600, he remarked.

"So far, we have not received any report of climbers insisting on ascending the peak of Mount Semeru to hold a flag-raising ceremony, as officers are also on standby in Kalimati, which is the final stop of the trekking route on the highest volcano in Java Island," he added.

Based on a recommendation from the Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center, Mount Semerus status has been raised to waspada (cautious), or alert level 2, which means all climbing activities up to the peak of Semeru (Mahameru) are prohibited. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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