Semeru Volcano Eruption: Alert Level III

Bandung (ANTARA) — The Geology Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has announced that Mount Semeru, in East Java, erupted on Wednesday night, and the highest volcano status on Java Island is now Level III (Siaga).

Based on data from the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of the Geology Agency received in Bandung, Semeru was observed to erupt at 21:27 Western Indonesian Time on Wednesday, with an ash plume height of approximately 600 m above the summit (approximately 4,276 m above sea level).

The ash plume appeared white to grey with moderate intensity and inclined toward the north. The eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 22 mm and a duration of about 2 minutes 11 seconds.

“The eruption is still ongoing at the time of reporting,” reads PVMBG’s statement.

Currently, Semeru is at Alert Level III (Siaga) with a recommendation not to conduct any activity in the southeastern sector along Besuk Kobokan, up to 13 km from the summit (the eruption centre).

Beyond that distance, the public should not conduct activities within 500 metres of the river edge (riverbank) along Besuk Kobokan due to potential lateral spread of ash clouds and lava flows up to 17 km from the summit.

Additionally, there is to be no activity within a 5 km radius of the crater/summit of Mount Semeru due to the danger of ejecta (projectiles).

Then, be vigilant for potential pyroclastic clouds, lava flows, and lahars along river valleys that head at the summit of Mount Semeru, especially along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat, as well as potential lahars in small rivers that are tributaries of Besuk Kobokan.