Alert Status, Activity of Mount Semeru Experiencing 21 Earthquake Eruptions

JAKARTA - Officer of the Semeru Volcano Observation Post Yadi Yuliandi in his written report said that seismic observations of Mount Semeru activity on Saturday at 00.00-06.00 WIB occurred 21 earthquakes or eruptions with amplitudes of 17-22 mm with an earthquake duration of 75-155 seconds.

"The seismograph also recorded one harmonic with an amplitude of 155 and an earthquake lasting 215 seconds," he said at the Semeru Volcano Observation Post on Mount Sawur, Lumajang Regency, East Java, Saturday, March 25.

In addition, he continued, there was one deep volcanic earthquake with an amplitude of 24 mm and two distant tectonic earthquakes with an amplitude of 10-14 mm.

For visual observation, Mount Semeru is clearly visible, the crater smoke is not observed, then the weather is clear to cloudy, the wind is weak to the south and southwest.

Mount Semeru's status is still at level III or Standby, so people are advised to comply with all recommendations set by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).

He explained that the community was prohibited from carrying out any activities in the southeastern sector along Besuk Kobokan as far as 13 km from the peak (the eruption center).

Beyond this distance, the community is also 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 expansion of hot clouds and lava flows up to a distance of 17 km from the summit.

"People on the slopes of Semeru are also advised not to move within a radius of 5 km from the crater/top of Mount Semeru because they are prone to the danger of throwing stones (incandescent)," he was quoted as saying by ANTARA.

In addition, the public is also advised to be aware of the potential for Hot Clouds (APG), lava avalanches, and lava along rivers/valleys that disgorge at the top of Mount Semeru.

"Especially along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat as well as the potential for lava in small rivers which are tributaries of Besuk Kobokan," he said.