Mount Semeru Experienced an Eruption Earthquake, Still on Alert Status

The activity of Mount Semeru which was observed from the Mount Semeru Observation Post on Mount Sawur, Lumajang Regency, Wednesday (20/9/2023) morning. (ANTARA/HO-PVMBG)

MALANG - Mount Semeru, which is on the border of Lumajang Regency with Malang, East Java, is still experiencing an earthquake or eruption on Wednesday, September 20 morning.

Based on a written report from the Mount Semeru Observation Post officer on Mount Sawur, Lumajang Regency, Mukdas Sofian, there were 16 earthquake eruptions with an amplitude of 12-20 mm, and an earthquake duration of 55-110 seconds during the observation period 20 September 2023 at 00.00 a.m. - 06.00 a.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB).

"Mount Semeru experienced one gust with an amplitude of 3 mm and an earthquake duration of 55 seconds," he said in Lumajang, quoted by Antara, Wednesday afternoon.

Apart from that, Semeru activity also experienced one deep volcanic earthquake with an amplitude of 18 mm and three distant tectonic earthquakes with an amplitude of 2-22 mm.

"For visual observation, Mount Semeru is clearly visible. The crater smoke is not visible, the weather is clear to cloudy, the wind is weak to the north," he said.

Mount Semeru is still on Alert or Level III status. The public is advised to comply with the recommendations of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), namely that it is prohibited to carry out any activities in the southeastern sector along Besuk Kobokan as far as 13 km from the peak (center of the eruption).

Beyond this distance, people should not carry out activities within 500 meters of the river bank (river border) along Besuk Kobokan, because they have the potential to be affected by the expansion of hot clouds and lava flows up to a distance of 17 km from the peak.

The public is also prohibited from carrying out activities within a 5 km radius of the crater/top of Semeru Volcano, because it is prone to the danger of throwing stones (flare).

Apart from that, it is necessary to be aware of the potential for hot cloud avalanches (APG), lava and lava avalanches along rivers/valleys that originate at the top of Semeru, especially along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat, as well as potential lahars in rivers. a small river which is a tributary of Besuk Kobokan.