BPBD Calls Mount Semeru Eruption Today Normal Activity

Mount Semeru emits hot clouds visible from the Pranajiwo area, Lumajang, East Java, Thursday (5/3/2020)

JATIM - The East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) revealed that today's eruption activity is a normal activity.

"The eruption of Mount Semeru is a normal activity and the community must still follow all the recommendations and directions of the competent authorities and agencies so that unwanted things do not occur," said Head of East Java BPBD Implementation Gatot Soebroto, Monday, August 12, confiscated by Antara.

He appealed to the public to avoid activities in areas that are cold lava routes.

The public is also prohibited from carrying out any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, as far as 13 km from the summit (the center of the eruption).

Beyond 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.

The public is also advised not to move within a 5 km radius of the crater/peak of Mount Semeru because it is prone to the danger of throwing stones (pijar).

The East Java BPBD is also aware of the potential for hot clouds of avalanches (APG), 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 that are tributaries of Besuk Kobokan.

"What is certain is that we always coordinate with PVMBG and BPBD Lumajang Regency regarding the activities of Mount Semeru and its potential," he said.

Mount Semeru, which is on the border of Lumajang and Malang Regencies, East Java, erupted again by throwing volcanic ash as high as 800 meters above the peak on Monday morning.

According to the Mount Semeru Observation Post Officer, Sigit Rian Alfian, the eruption of Mount Semeru occurred on Monday, August 12, 2024, at 05.21 WIB with a column height of ash being observed at approximately 800 meters above the peak or about 4,476 meters above sea level (masl).

According to data from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation received, the visually visible mountain is up to 0-II fog. The crater smoke was not observed.

Observed 15 times of smoke eruptions with gray white smoke colors high in smoke from 300-700 meters north. There were 4 times the roar of the eruption. And currently Mount Semeru is at Level II (Alert).