Mount Semeru Eruption, Emergency Response Status Set Until January 3, 2022

The condition of residential areas buried by hot cloud material from Mount Semeru in Sumber Wuluh Village, Lumajang, East Java (Photo: Zabur Karuru/Antara)

JAKARTA - Lumajang Regent Thoriqul Haq has declared an emergency response status for the impact of hot clouds and Mount Semeru avalanches for 30 days. This is in response to the catastrophic eruption on Mount Semeru that has occurred since Saturday, December 4.

"The emergency response status starts from December 4, 2021, to January 3, 2022," said Plt. Head of BNPB Disaster Data and Communication Center Abdul Muhari in his statement, Monday, December 6.

Then, the Lumajang Regent also established an Emergency Response Command for Mount Semeru Hot Clouds and Falls, which was led by the Military District Commander 0821 Lumajang.

Based on the latest data compiled on December 5 at 17.30 western Indonesia time, the number of victims who died due to the eruption of Mount Semeru was 14 people.

"The victims who died were identified in two sub-districts, 11 people died in Pronojiwo District, while 3 people died in Candipuro District," said Abdul Muhari.

Meanwhile, at least 56 people were injured due to the eruption of Mount Semeru. A total of 35 of them were hospitalized.

In addition, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Lumajang Regency also reported that 5,205 people were affected by the occurrence of avalanche hot clouds.

"Until now, the local BPBD is still collecting data regarding the number of victims affected and the development of the number of people who have fled to 1,300 people," he said.

The spread of hot clouds from Mount Semeru also caused several houses to be covered with volcanic material and the Gladak Perak bridge in the Kobokan Bulk which became the access link between Lumajang and Malang.