Mount Semeru Emits Crater Smoke As High As 500 Meters

LUMAJANG - Mount Semeru which has a height of 3,676 meters above sea level (masl) emits crater smoke as high as 500 meters above the crater peak which is monitored visually from the Semeru Volcano Observation Post (PPGA) during the observation period Monday at 12.00 to 18.00 WIB.

"Visually, the smoke from the crater under pressure was observed to be white with thick intensity and 500 meters above the top of the crater," said PPGA Semeru officer Liswanto in his written report on Mount Sawur, Lumajang Regency, East Java, quoted by Antara, Monday, December 27.

In addition, he continued, visually the volcano was clearly visible and for seismic activity it was recorded that three avalanches occurred with an amplitude of 2-4 mm with a duration of 20-30 seconds.

"The status of Mount Semeru is at level III or on alert, so people are advised not to carry out any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan as far as 13 kilometers from the summit (the center of the eruption)," he said.

Outside this distance, the community is not allowed to do it at a distance of 500 meters from the river bank (river border) along Besuk Kobokan because it has the potential to be affected by the area of hot clouds and lava flows up to a distance of 17 km from the peak.

Liswanto said that the public was also not allowed to move within a 5 km radius of the crater/peak of Mount Semeru because it was prone to the danger of throwing stones (incandescent).

The public is also advised to be aware of the potential for hot cloud avalanches (APG), lava avalanches, and lahars along rivers/valleys that originate at the peak of Mount Semeru, especially along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat as well as the potential for lahars in rivers. -a small river which is a tributary of Besuk Kobokan.