Dozens Of Houses In Supiturang Were Severely Damaged By The Semeru Hot Clouds
LUMAJANG - Dozens of houses in Sumbersari Hamlet, Supiturang Village, Pronojiwo District, Lumajang Regency, East Java were badly damaged by being swept away by hot clouds accompanied by lava from the eruption of Mount Semeru on Wednesday, November 19 afternoon.
Apart from settlements, a number of public facilities such as schools and prayer rooms were also buried in ash, sand, and hot rocks carried by the Semeru lava current.
On Thursday, November 20 morning, most of the buildings on the slopes of Mount Semeru were almost flattened to the ground. The still warm lava material hoards village roads and the yard, making it difficult for residents to carry out activities and the process of evacuating goods.
A number of residents seemed to be trying to find the remains of property that might still be saved. They picked up items that were not destroyed and then taken to the nearest evacuation point.
"This is saving the equipment that can still be carried. Meanwhile, evacuate first because the house has been razed to the ground," said Zubaeri, an affected victim.
Hundreds of residents of Supiturang Village and surrounding areas have been evacuated to several refugee locations in Pronojiwo District. The refugees are placed in village halls, school buildings, and locations that are considered safe from potential follow-up lava flows.
VOIR éGALEMENT:
Joint officers from the Lumajang BPBD, volunteers, and security forces are still collecting data related to the impact of the damage and ensuring that no residents are trapped in the affected areas. In addition, access to the village is now heavily guarded because some of the lines are heavily damaged and have the potential to endanger vehicles.
The eruption of Mount Semeru, which occurred on Wednesday afternoon, triggered cold and hot lava flows to a number of areas on the southern slopes. Currently, the status of Semeru has been raised to level IV or was, and residents are asked to maintain a safe distance from vulnerable areas, especially along the Besuk Kobokan flow.