The Semeru Hot Clouds Shed Over 3,000 Meters

Mount Semeru's glowing lava fall was observed from Candipuro District, Lumajang, East Java, Tuesday 1 December. (Mon / Between)

JAKARTA - The fall of hot clouds from Mount Semeru in Malang and Lumajang Regencies, East Java Province, on Tuesday slid as far as 3,000 meters towards Besuk Kobokan in Lumajang Regency, according to monitoring by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG).

Reported by Antara, Tuesday, December 1, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) stated that the PVMBG monitoring results at the Mount Semeru Observation Post in Kajar Kuning Hamlet, Sumberwuluh Village, Candipuro District, Lumajang Regency, showed the sliding distance of the hot clouds from Semeru's avalanche on Tuesday. 01.23 WIB around 2,000 meters has reached 3,000 meters at 02.00 WIB.

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Raditya Jati said that according to a report by the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), rain mixed with volcanic ash at 03.00 WIB fell around the observation post.

The Lumajang BPBD Quick Response Team (TRC) has gone down to the disaster prone area (KRB) I to monitor the situation.

According to Raditya, at the time of the avalanche of hot clouds, residents in the KRB area of Room A, Curah Koboan, and Rowobaung in the Pronojiwo District began to evacuate independently.

"This happened at around 03.45 WIB. The TRC in the field urged residents to remain calm and not panic when the volcanic incident accompanied the evacuation efforts of residents," he said.

An hour later, he continued, TRC sent a team to bring equipment such as tarpaulins, mattresses, masks, side dishes, blankets, mineral water, and PPPK packages.

According to temporary data from the local BPBD, the number of residents who fled to avoid the impact of the Semeru eruption was around 500 people. They are scattered in several refugee points such as Gunung Sawur Post, SD Supiturang, and mosques.

The Lumajang District BPBD has also asked residents of Curah Koboan Hamlet in Supiturang Village and Rowobaung Hamlet in Oro-Oro Ombo Village, Pronojiwo District, and Kajar Kuning Village in Sumberwuluh Village, Candipuro District, to leave their homes to avoid the impact of the hot lava flow.