Mount Semeru Eruption, Malang-Lumajang Road Access Closed

Residents captured the slide of Mount Semeru hot clouds in Sumberwuluh Village, Candipuro, Lumajang, East Java, Wednesday (19/11/2025) BETWEEN PHOTOS/Irfan Sumanjaya/YU

The Malang Resort Police Traffic Unit temporarily closed the road access from Malang Regency to Lumajang Regency, East Java, through Ampelgading District after the eruption of Mount Semeru.

Head of the Malang Police Traffic Unit AKP Muhammad Alif Chelvin Arliska said the closure of the Malang-Lumajang road access was carried out until conditions were actually declared safe.

"We have informed from (direction) Lumajang that it has been temporarily closed from the local police and from the side of Malang Regency to follow it temporarily until conditions are safe," Chelvin said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, November 19.

After access roads through Ampelgading were closed, Chelvin appealed to motorists from Malang who were going to Lumajang to use alternative routes.

"The path is Malang - Pasuruan - Probolinggo," he added.

Currently, Malang Police Traffic Unit personnel have been alerted at strategic points to carry out isolation as well as provide information to every road user who will pass on the Malang-Lumajang route via Ampelgading.

Head of the Public Relations Section of the Malang Police, AKP Bambang Subinanjar, added that the closure of the connecting route between regions was to ensure public safety in the midst of the eruption of Mount Semeru.

"The volcanic situation is still volatile so that the direct route to Lumajang is not safe to pass. We ask the public to understand and follow the direction of the officers," he said.

Malang Police are also coordinating with the Lumajang Police, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and related agencies to monitor the development of the eruption of Mount Semeru and prepare emergency steps if necessary.

Previously, the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) raised the status of Mount Semeru's activity from level III (Alert) to level IV (Awas).

Head of the Geological Agency Muhammad Wafid said the increase in the status of Mount Semeru to Alert was after the results of visual and instrumental monitoring showed that volcanic activity was still high and unstable.

"The increase in the activity level of Mount Semeru from level III (Alert) to Level IV (Awas) at 17.00 WIB," said Wafid.

The Geological Agency recommends that people, climbers, and tourists do not carry out activities within a radius of eight kilometers from the crater of the mountain as well as thewest to northeastern sector as far as 20 kilometers from the eruption center.

In addition, the public is also asked to be aware of the potential for lava flooding in the event of heavy rain, especially in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, as far as eight kilometers from the peak of the eruption.