State of alert on Mount Semeru

Iman Dwianto Nugroho, The Jakarta Post,

Carrying a sack of dry grass, a local resident passes a zalacca palm plantation in the foothills of erupting Mount Semeru in Lumajang regency, East Java province.

The volcano, whose summit is 3,676 meters above sea level, has been spewing hot ash for several days, prompting local authorities to declare a state of alert.

Under such circumstances, climbers and tourists are called not to approach the famous Mahameru Crater, at the top of Mount Semeru, the highest mountain in densely populated Java.

Head of the Mount Semeru observation post Suparno also called on local residents on the slopes of the mountain to remain vigilant for a possible larger eruption in the near future.

Suparno recalled on Saturday that over the past three days, activity on Mount Semeru had increased markedly. Eruptions in the crater of the volcano had occurred 120 times per day, twice the norm of about 60 per day. The eruptions belched cold lava and spewed hot ash. Tremors on the mountain had occurred 10 times per day on average.

"In order to prevent possible fatalities, climbers and tourists are advised not to approach the volcano crater," said Suparno. The last eruption on Semeru occurred last year; it forced thousands of residents from two subdistricts on the slopes of Mount Semeru to flee to safety. (Iman Dwianto Nugroho)