Jakarta (TDI): Indonesia’s most active volcano on Java Island roared back to life early Saturday, as multiple eruptions from Mount Semeru sent clouds of superheated ash and gas as high as nearly 6 kilometers, authorities said.
The first significant eruption was recorded at 5:54 am local time, when intense and fast-moving mixtures of hot gas, volcanic ash and debris surged southeast toward the Besuk Kobokan river valley in East Java’s Lumajang and Malang regencies.
A dense grey ash column rose roughly 2,000 meters (6,561 feet) above the summit, according to volcanologists at the Mount Semeru observation post.
A second eruption at 7:25 am produced another towering plume, this time reaching about 1,500 meters above the peak. Seismic sensors recorded significant ground tremors during both explosions.
Following the events, Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) reiterated warnings urging people to stay at least 13 kilometers from the crater, particularly along riverbanks, where torrential pyroclastic flows remain a serious hazard.
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Officials also advised avoiding riverbeds within 500 meters of waterways that drain from the volcano, given the risk of hot clouds and debris traveling to unexpected distances.
Semeru, which towers at about 3,676 meters (12,060 feet) and dominates the landscape of East Java, sits along the geologically active Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Indonesia has more than 120 active volcanoes, many of which have the potential to endanger nearby communities when they erupt. As of now, there have been no immediate reports of major damage or casualties from this latest eruption.
Local emergency services and disaster mitigation teams, however, remain on alert and continue monitoring volcanic activity closely. This latest volcanic activity comes as Semeru has shown intermittent eruptions in recent months, with smaller ash emissions and pyroclastic flows reported in January.
