Semeru Has Alert Status, Sand Mining In Lumjang Is Temporarily Prohibited

Officers use heavy equipment to build embankments and shrinkages in watersheds (DAS) that originate in Semeru. BETWEEN THE ANTARA/HO-Disaster Management Team

LUMAJANG - All sand mining activities in Lumajang Regency, East Java, were temporarily suspended when Mount Semeru was Level IV or Alert.

"The Lumajang Regency Government is taking firm steps following the increase in the volcanic activity of Mount Semeru," said Lumajang Regent Indah Amperawati as reported by ANTARA, Monday, November 24.

The decision was stated in the Circular of the Regent of Lumajang Number 500.10.2.3/1/427.14/2025 which emphasized that the owner of the mining business license and mining workers must stop activities until conditions are safe.

"For the safety of residents and preventing the risk of further disasters, all sand mining activities in the Besuk Kobokan River and upstream areas in Semeru have been temporarily suspended," he said.

He said Mount Semeru had the status of Alert, so the Lumajang Regency Government banned mining activities because all supervision was carried out with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and the National Police Chief, so that public safety remained the main priority.

Meanwhile, Lumajang Regional Secretary Agus Triyono said the district government coordinated with PVMBG, BPBD, TNI-Polri, and other stakeholders to ensure data-based decisions and scientific analysis.

"The mining will reopen after Semeru's condition is declared safe by the authorities," he said.

Head of the Lumajang Regency Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) Hindam Adri Century said his party together with BPBD, TNI' Polri, village officials, and volunteers continued to respond quickly and take steps to handle it in the field to maintain the safety of residents after the eruption of Mount Semeru.

"Joint officers carry out regional security that has the potential to become a hot cloud glide route, including blocking residents who try to move in the Regoyo river basin (DAS) and the Pantau Besuk Kobokan Post area," he said.

He explained that the Satpol PP and the joint team actively carried out patrols and traffic guarding around the Besuk Kobokan Bridge, one of the vital routes adjacent to areas prone to hot cloud slides.