Mount Semeru Erupts, Sprays Volcanic Ash Up To 800 Meters

Mount Semeru erupted as seen from the Semeru Volcano Observation Post on Mount Sawur on Wednesday at 08.55 WIB. BETWEEN/HO-PVMBG.

LUMAJANG - Mount Semeru experienced two eruptions by ejecting volcanic ash as high as 700-800 meters above the peak on Wednesday at 07.25 WIB and 08.55 WIB.

Mount Semeru Volcano Observation Post officer Sigit Rian Alfian said that the eruption of Mount Semeru, which was first observed at 07.25 WIB with a column height of ash, was about 700 meters above the peak (about 4,376 m above sea level).

"The volcanic ash column was observed to be white to gray with thick intensity to the north. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 22 mm and a duration of 97 seconds," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, January 24.

Then the second eruption occurred at 08.55 WIB with a volcanic ash height observed about 800 meters above the peak (about 4,476 meters above sea level) and an orange flight color code.

The distribution of volcanic ash was observed to be gray with thick intensity moving from north to northwest. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 23 mm and a duration of 110 seconds.

The status of the highest mountain on the island of Java is still at Level III or on standby, so officers appealed to the public not to carry out any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, as far as 13 km from the summit (the center of the eruption).

Then outside of that distance, people are not allowed to carry out activities at a distance of 500 meters from the riverbank (river border) along Besuk Kobokan because it has the potential to be affected by the expansion of hot clouds and lava flows up to a distance of 17 km from the summit.

"Then residents are also not allowed to move within a 5 km radius of the crater/peak of Mount Semeru because it is prone to the danger of incandescent stones," he said.

The public is also asked to be aware of the potential for hot clouds, lava avalanches, and lahars along rivers/valleys that originate at the peak of the Semeru Volcano, especially along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat as well as the potential for lahars in small rivers which are tributaries of Besuk Kobokan.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Prevention of Preparedness and Logistics of the Lumajang Regency BPBD, Wawan Hadi Siswoyo, said that there was no impact as a result of the eruption of Mount Semeru twice.

"So far it is safe and under control, there is no spread of volcanic ash that leads to residential areas and residents' activities are running normally," he said.