Mount Semeru Activity Still Dominated by Earthquakes and Eruptions

LUMAJANG - The activity of Mount Semeru, which has a height of 3,676 meters above sea level (mdpl), is still dominated by earthquakes and eruptions every day.

"In the observation period today from 00.00-06.00 WIB, a total of 38 times of eruption/erupting earthquakes with an amplitude of 15-22 mm, and an earthquake duration of 85-140 seconds," said Mount Semeru Observation Post Officer, Mukdas Sofian in a written report received in Lumajang, Monday.

The highest mountain on Java Island was also recorded to have experienced 2 distant tectonic earthquakes with an amplitude of 10-25 mm, S-P 15-18 seconds and a long earthquake of 49-50 seconds.

For visual observations, Mount Semeru is clearly visible until it is covered by 0-I Fog. The crater smoke is not observed. The weather is sunny to cloudy, with moderate to strong winds to the north.

Meanwhile, the observation data of Mount Semeru's activity on Sunday (28/12) for 24 hours recorded 149 times of eruption/erupting earthquakes with an amplitude of 10-23 mm, and the earthquake lasted 60-180 seconds.

Then 13 times the earthquake with a magnitude of 2-86 mm and the earthquake lasted 29-81 seconds, and 28 times the earthquake with a magnitude of 2-9 mm, and the earthquake lasted 33-89 seconds.

The mountain, which is on the border of Lumajang and Malang Regencies, also experienced 1 harmonic, 1 volcanic earthquake in the deep, and 6 distant tectonic earthquakes.

Mukdas explained that Mount Semeru was at level III (Alert) status, so the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) provided a number of recommendations.

"People should not carry out any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, as far as 13 km from the peak (the center of the eruption)," he said as quoted by Antara.

Outside this distance, the public should not carry out activities at a distance of 500 meters from the river bank (river border) along Besuk Kobokan, because they have the potential to be hit by the expansion of the hot cloud and lava flow up to a distance of 17 km from the peak.

The public is also prohibited from carrying out activities within a radius of 5 km from the crater / peak of Mount Semeru, because they are prone to the danger of stone throwing (pijar).

Then, residents also need to be aware of the potential for hot clouds, lava discharge, and lahar along the river/valley flow upstream at the peak of the Semeru Volcano, especially along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat and the potential for lahar on small rivers which are tributaries of Besuk Kobokan.