Mount Semeru erupts again on Wednesday night, accompanied by loud explosions
Lumajang, East Java (ANTARA) - Mount Semeru, which stands at an altitude of 3,67lag76 metres above sea level, experienced an eruption accompanied by the sound of explosions on Wednesday night.
“An eruption of Mount Semeru occurred at 22:18 WIB. The visual aspect of the eruption was not observed,” said Agastya Rajendra, an officer at the Mount Semeru Observation Post, in a written report received in Lumajang, East Java.
According to him, the eruption was recorded on the seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 25 mm and a duration of 128 seconds.
“The eruption of Mount Semeru was accompanied by the sound of explosions/rumbling,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Lumajang Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Isnugroho, confirmed the rumbling/explosive sounds that accompanied the eruption of Mount Semeru.
“Alhamdulillah, there were no impacts resulting from the rumbling sounds,” he said.
He explained that the volcanic activity of Mount Semeru is currently at Level III, or Alert status, with recommendations for the public to refrain from any activities in the south-eastern sector along Besuk Kobokan, up to 13 km from the summit (the centre of the eruption).
“Outside of that distance, the public must also avoid activities within 500 metres of the riverbanks along Besuk Kobokan, as there is a potential for the expansion of pyroclastic clouds and lava flows up to 17 km from the summit,” he said.
Furthermore, the public is prohibited from conducting activities within a 5 km radius of the crater/summit of Mount Semeru due to the danger of volcanic rock fragments (incandescent ejecta).
The public is also urged to remain vigilant regarding the potential for pyroclastic clouds, lava flows, and lahars along the rivers and valleys originating from the summit of Mount Semeru.
“Particularly along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat, as well as the potential for lahars in small rivers that are tributaries of Besuk Kobokan,” said Isnugroho.