Semeru Level Watch Out! Residents Asked To Stay Away From Kobokan Until 20 Km

LUMAJANG - Mount Semeru, which has a height of 3,676 meters above sea level (masl), recorded 32 avalanches during the last six hours on Thursday from 00.00 to 06.00 WIB, Thursday, November 20.

"The activity of Mount Semeru for seismic observations was recorded at 32 avalanches with an amplitude of 3-16 mm and an earthquake duration of 69-108 seconds," said Mount Semeru Observation Post Officer Yadi Yuliandi as quoted by Antara, Thursday, November 20.

In addition, the mountain, which is located on the border of Lumajang and Malang Regencies, also experienced 25 eruptions/Eruption earthquakes with an amplitude of 10-22 mm, and an earthquake of 71-141 seconds.

"Semeru also experienced one gust earthquake with an amplitude of 3 mm, and an earthquake of 67 seconds. Then one tectonic earthquake was far away with an amplitude of 30 mm, S-P 21 seconds and an earthquake length of 77 seconds," he said.

For visual observations, the Semeru volcano was clearly visible until it was covered by 0-II fog. The crater smoke was not observed. The weather is cloudy, the wind is weak to the north, southeast, and south.

Yadi explained that Mount Semeru was at Alert or Level IV status since Wednesday (19/11) at 17.00 WIB due to the increase in volcanic activity, so that the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) provided a number of recommendations, namely that people do not carry out any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, as far as 20 km from the summit (the center of the eruption).

"Outside of that distance, people are also not allowed to carry out activities at a distance of 500 meters from the riverbank (river border) along Besuk Kobokan because it has the potential to be affected by the expansion of hot clouds and lava flows," he said.

PVMBG also appealed to the public not to move within a radius of 8 km from the crater/peak of Mount Semeru because it is prone to the danger of throwing stones.

The public also needs to be aware of the potential for hot clouds, lava avalanches, and lahars along rivers/valleys that originate at the peak of the Semeru Volcano, especially along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat as well as the potential for lahars in small rivers that are tributaries of Besuk Kobokan.