In Four Hours, Mount Semeru Erupted 7 Times

JAKARTA - Mount Semeru on the border of Lumajang and Malang Regencies, East Java, has experienced seven eruptions for four hours with an eruption height of around 400 meters to 1,300 meters above the peak.

The first eruption occurred at 06.06 WIB with the height of the observed eruption column about 700 meters above the peak and the observed ash column was gray in color with a thick intensity towards the southeast, and was recorded on the seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 22 mm and a duration of 108 seconds.

"The second eruption occurred at 07.22 WIB with an observed eruption column height of 400 meters above the peak," said Mount Semeru Observation Post Officer Liswanto in a written report reported by ANTARA, Friday, July 3.

Mount Semeru erupted again at 07.29 WIB with an observed eruption column height of about 1,100 meters above the peak and a few minutes later at 07.58 WIB the eruption re-erupted with an eruption column height of 1,300 meters above the peak.

The eruption occurred again at 08.45 WIB with an observed eruption column height of 800 meters above the peak and an observed ash column of white to gray with medium intensity towards the south. At the time of this report, the eruption was still ongoing.

At 09.48 WIB, the highest mountain on Java erupted again with an observed eruption column height of about 1,300 meters above the peak and an observed ash column of white to gray with medium intensity towards the south. When this report was made, the eruption was still ongoing.

"Mount Semeru erupted again at 10.18 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 with medium intensity towards the south," he said.

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

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

"The public is 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.

He asked the public to be aware of the potential for hot clouds, lava discharge, 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, as well as the potential for lahar in small rivers which are tributaries of Besuk Kobokan," said Liswanto.

Reporter : Zumrotun Solichah