Mount Semeru Erupts, Vomits Abu Colombas As High As 600 Meters

LUMAJANG - Mount Semeru again showed volcanic activity by vomiting up a column of thick ash as high as 600 meters on Sunday 13 July. This eruption is a real warning of the potential danger that continues to lurk in the area around the highest mountain on the island of Java.

According to data from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), the eruption occurred at around 05.56 WIB and was visually observed from the Semeru Volcano monitoring post in Lumajang Regency, East Java.

The gray ash column with thick intensity points to the west. This eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 22 mm and a duration of 182 seconds, "explained Yadi Yuliandi, an observer of the Semeru Volcano from PVMBG.

Although there have been no reports of a significant impact on residential areas or residents' activities, PVMBG still sets the status of Mount Semeru at Level II or Alert.

As an anticipatory measure, the community is advised not to carry out activities within a radius of 8 kilometers from the eruption center in the southeast sector, and to avoid the Besuk Kobokan river basin (DAS) up to 13 kilometers from the top of the mountain.

"Residents are also prohibited from doing activities 500 meters from the banks of the Besuk Kobokan river because it is still at risk of hot clouds and lava flows," added Yadi.

Besuk Kobokan is one of the main hot lava routes from Mount Semeru. Even though today's eruption is on a medium scale, the potential for landslides of volcanic material and rain lava remains a serious threat, especially in the rainy season.

PVMBG reminded that eruptions can occur at any time and without strong initial signs, so that vigilance and compliance with safety recommendations are the main keys to protecting oneself.