Mount Semeru has experienced seven eruptions, the highest eruption reaching 1.1 kilometers

LUMAJANG - Mount Semeru, which is on the border of Lumajang and Malang Regencies, East Java (Jatim), has recorded seven eruptions with an eruption height of 300 meters to 1,100 meters above the peak on Monday, April 6.

The first eruption occurred at 00.38 WIB with the height of the observed eruption column about 1,000 meters above the peak. The ash column was observed to be white to gray in intensity towards the southwest. The eruption was recorded on the seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 23 mm and a duration of 135 seconds.

"The eruption with the highest eruption occurred at 06.51 WIB with the height of the observed eruption column of about 1,100 meters above the peak," said Mount Semeru Observation Post Officer Liswanto, quoted by Antara, Monday morning.

The observed ash column was white to gray with medium intensity towards the south.

The seventh eruption occurred at 09:29 WIB with an unobservable eruption visual and when the report was made, the eruption of Mount Semeru was still ongoing.

He explained that Mount Semeru was in the Level III (Alert) volcanic activity status, so the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) provided a number of recommendations, namely that the public should not carry out any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, as far as 13 kilometers from the peak (center of the eruption).

Outside this distance, he said, people 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 kilometers from the peak.

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

According to him, the public needs to be aware of the potential for hot clouds, lava discharge, and lahar along the river/valley flow upstream at the peak of Mount Semeru.

"Especially, along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat, as well as the potential for lahar in small rivers which are tributaries of Besuk Kobokan," said Liswanto.