Semeru Up Level 'Alert' After Eruption, 1,979 Residents Extended

Mount Semeru. (BNPB Public Relations dock)

A total of 1,979 residents fled at 11 points after the eruption of Mount Semeru today. Now, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) has raised the status of the Semeru Volcano from level III (standby) to level IV (awas). The Disaster Management National Agency (BNPB) Control and Operation Center (Pusdalops) detailed 11 evacuation points, with details of 266 people at SDN 4 Supiturang, 217 people at Oro-oro Ombo Village Hall, 119 people at SDN 2 Sumberurip, 228 people at Sumberurip Village Hall. Then, as many as 131 people took refuge in the Penanggal Village Hall, 52 people at the Gunung Sawur Post, 216 people at the Pasirian Village Hall, 150 people at Candipuro Field, 600 people at the Candipuro District Office and the rest at SMP N 2 Pronojiwo. "Until now, there have been no reports of casualties. A joint team from the Lumajang Regency BPBD, Basarnas, TNI, Polri, volunteers and cross-agency related continues to carry out rescue, search and evacuation efforts," said Plt. Head of BNPB Disaster Data and Communication Center Abdul Muhari in his statement, Sunday, December 4. The areas affected by the Mount Semeru APG include Capiturang and Sumberurip villages in Pronojiwo District, Sumbersari Village in Rowokangkung District, Penanggal Village and Sumberwuluh Village in Candipuro District and Pasirian Village in Pasirian Village. "A total of 10,000 cloth masks, 10,000 medical masks and 4,000 child masks have been distributed to reduce the impact of respiratory health risk due to volcanic ash. The establishment of public kitchens is being processed by PMI and the Social Service," said Abdul Muhari. PVMBG noted that the hot clouds of avalanches (APG) of Mount Semeru came from piles on the tip of the lava tongue which were about 800 meters from the summit or Jonggring Seloko Crater. It was recorded that as of 02.46 WIB today, the ash column was observed to be gray with moderate to thick intensity to the southeast and south as high as approximately 1,500 meters above the peak. Then, at 07.42 WIB, the APG phenomenon continued until this morning at 07.42 WIB with a sliding distance varying from 5 to 7 kilometers from the summit towards Besuk Kobokan. Gempatan activity on December 4, 2022 at 00.00 - 06.00 WIB recorded 8 earthquake eruptions, 1 Earthquake Hot Cloud Fall which was still ongoing until 06.00 WIB. This shows that the eruption and hot clouds of avalanches in Semeru Volcano are still very high. In addition to the potential for hot clouds to occur, the potential for lava flows is also still high considering the high rainfall on Mount Semeru. PVMBG recommends to the public not to carry out any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, as far as 13 kilometers from the summit (the center of the eruption). people are expected not 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 kilometers from the summit. Furthermore, the public is asked 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).