Mount Semeru Eruption Wednesday Night, Status Alert

JAKARTA - The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources informed that Mount Semeru, East Java, had an eruption on Wednesday night. The status of the highest mountain on the island of Java is now Level III (Alert).

Based on data from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of the Geological Agency, Mount Semeru erupted at 21.27 WIB with an observed ash column height of ± 600 m above the peak (± 4,276 m above sea level).

The observed ash column was white to gray with medium intensity and inclined to the north. This eruption was recorded on the seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 22 mm and a temporary duration of ± 2 minutes 11 seconds.

"The eruption is still ongoing while the report is being made," wrote PVMBG's statement, as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 20.

Currently, Mount Semeru is at Level III Status (Alert) with a recommendation not to carry out any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, as far as 13 km from the peak (center of the eruption).

Outside this distance, the public does 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.

Residents are reminded not to carry 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, be aware of the potential for hot clouds, lava flows, and lahar along the river/valley streams upstream of the summit of Mount Semeru, especially along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat, and the potential for lahar in small rivers which are tributaries of Besuk Kobokan.