Lumajang, E Java (ANTARA) - Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Wednesday, shooting up columns of volcanic ash that reached a height of 800 meters above the summit.

“Mount Semeru erupted at 5:19 p.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB), with an around 800-meter volcanic ash column above its summit,” an observation officer at Mount Semeru, Yadi Yuliandi, confirmed in a written report.

According to Yuliandi, the ash column was thick, grayish in color, and drifted westward. The eruption was recorded by a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 22 mm and lasted 140 seconds.

He noted that the volcano had also erupted earlier that day at 6:13 a.m. local time, although no visual data was recorded. That eruption lasted 118 seconds and was recorded with a maximum amplitude of 22 mm.

Yuliandi explained that Mount Semeru’s status is still at level II or alert.

As a result, the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) has urged local communities to avoid activities in the southeast sector of the volcano, along the Besuk Kobokan River, up to 8 kilometers from the summit.

Residents have also been advised not to carry out any activities within 500 meters of the Besuk Kobokan riverbank as the area is prone to hot clouds and lahar flows (volcanic mudflows) that can reach a distance of up to 13 km from the summit.

“People are also advised not to carry out activities within a 3-kilometer radius of the summit of Mount Semeru since it is prone to volcanic rockfall,” he added.

Authorities have also warned residents to remain vigilant against hot clouds, lava avalanches, and lahar flows along rivers originating from the peak of Mount Semeru, especially along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat.

In addition, communities have been cautioned about the potential for lahar in smaller rivers branching from Besuk Kobokan.



Related news: Semeru erupts four times, ash reaches 1.2 kilometers

Translator: Zumrotun Solichah, Raka Adji
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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