Mount Semeru Eruption Friday Afternoon Accompanied by Hot Cloud Swirls

JAKARTA - Mount Semeru, which has a height of 3,676 meters above sea level (msl), is reported to have erupted accompanied by a hot cloud slide on Friday afternoon.

"There has been an eruption of Mount Semeru at 18.40 WIB, but the height of the ash column was not observed because it was covered by fog," said Mount Semeru Observation Post Officer, Yadi Yuliandi, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, May 22.

According to him, the eruption was recorded in the seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 22 mm and a duration of ± 5 minutes 15 seconds.

"The eruption of Semeru is accompanied by hot clouds with an unknown distance because the visual of the mountain which is on the border of Lumajang and Malang Regencies is covered by fog," he said.

Based on data from officers, Mount Semeru has recorded six eruptions since 06.44 WIB to 18.40 WIB.

Yadi explained that currently the volcanic activity of Mount Semeru is at Level III Status (Alert) with the recommendation that the public not carry out any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, as far as 13 km from the peak (eruption center).

"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," he said.

He said that people should not be active within a radius of 5 km from the crater / peak of Mount Semeru because they are prone to the danger of stone throwing (pijar).

"It is also necessary to be aware of the potential for hot clouds, lava discharge, and lahar along the river/valley flows upstream of the Semeru Volcano peak, 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," he said.