PVMBG Explains The WHY The Status Of Mount Semeru Rises To Alert

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) explained the reason for increasing the status of Mount Semeru in East Java to Level IV or Watch out so that people who live in disaster-prone areas map out of the area.

"When we raise (the status) to Alert, it means that there is a threat that can occur to residents who are still in disaster-prone areas," said PVMBG Intermediate Earth Researcher Agus Budianto in a discussion entitled "Information on Geological Disaster and Landwater Licensing", Monday 5 December, confiscated by Antara.

Agus said that people outside the map of disaster-prone areas do not need to worry about the impact caused by the eruption that occurred on Mount Semeru.

At 12.00 WIB, December 4, 2022, PVMBG has raised the status of Mount Semeru from Level III or Alert to Level IV or Alert.

PVMBG recommends the public not to carry out any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan as far as 17 kilometers, because it has the potential to be affected by the expansion of hot clouds and lava flows up to 19 kilometers.

Based on observations made at the monitoring post of Mount Semeru, Monday, December 5, at around 6-12 WIB, the volcano was recorded to have experienced 18 eruptions or eruptions with an amplitude of 16 to 23 millimeters and an earthquake length of 85 to 115 seconds.

In addition, Mount Semeru also experienced one earthquake with an amplitude of 8 millimeters and an earthquake of 50 seconds.

Mount Semeru is administratively located in Lumajang Regency and Malang Regency, East Java Province. The active volcano was monitored visually and instrumentally from two volcanic observation posts in Sumber Wuluh Village, Candipuro District, Lumajang Regency, as well as in Agrosuko Village, Ampelgading District, Malang Regency.

The activity of Mount Semeru is found in the Jonggring Seloko Crater which is located to the southeast of the Mahameru peak. The eruption of Mount Semeru generally eruptions of volcanic and strombolian type ash that occur three to four times an hour.

A volcanian-type eruption is characterized by explosive eruptions that sometimes destroy pre-formed domes and lava tongues.

Subsequently, astrombolian-type eruption was usually followed by the formation of a new dome and lava tongue.

At the time of the explosive eruption, it is usually followed by hot clouds flowing into lower valleys and flow directions in accordance with the crater opening and valleys in Mount Semeru.

The direction of the crater opening of Mount Semeru is currently heading southeast or towards the upper reaches of Besuk Kembar, Besuk Bang, and Besuk Kobokan.