"Hot cloud fall was witnessed by an officer at the Mount Semeru Monitoring Post in Mount Sawur as well as was seen by volunteers that were on standby in Curah Kobokan Village," Head of Emergency, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction of the Lumajang District Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), Joko Sambang, stated on Thursday.
Sambang explained that due to the release of hot clouds, people in Sumbersari Village had independently evacuated at around 10:46 p.m. local time on Wednesday night. They immediately left their houses after the alert for the hot cloud fall was announced.
"Thereafter, at 10:57 p.m. local time, the officer of the Mount Semeru Monitoring Post on Mount Sawur gave information that the hot cloud fall was not recorded on the seismograph, as it had stopped," he stated.
Meanwhile, 12 minutes later at 11:09 p.m. local time, officers shared notices on WhatsApp groups to always be highly vigilant owing to the high likelihood of hot clouds and to always comply with the recommendations issued by the Mitigation Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard (PVMBG).
"The occurrence of hot clouds was causal to volcanic ash rain of heavy intensity being witnessed in some villages in Candipuro Sub-district. However, today, the ash rain has stopped," he remarked.
The villages of Oro-oro Ombo, Curah Kobokan, Kajarkuning, Penanggal, Sumber Mujur, Sumber Wuluh, Sumberejo, Candipuro, and Jarit were impacted by the ash cloud.
"Residents affected by ash rains can still conduct their usual activities in their homes, but we urge residents to continue to increase alertness because the status of Mount Semeru is still at Level III, or 'be alert,' since December 16, 2021," he remarked.
The eruption of hot clouds indicated that seismic activity in the Jonggring Saloka crater is still high, according to Sambang.
He also expressed optimism that the public would stay vigilant and not conduct activities in the red zone area.
"The officers are on standby at several points to monitor activities of Mt. Semeru and continue to coordinate with the Mt. Sawur Post," he explained.
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Translator: Zumrotun S, Kenzu T
Editor: Sri Haryati
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