Mount Semeru 4 Rivers Of Eruption Today, Dismantling Up To 1 Kilometer Of Smoke

The incandescent lava fall of Mount Semeru can be seen from Pronojiwo, Lumajang, East Java, Wednesday, December 2, 2020. (ANTARA-Umarul F)

LUMAJANG - Mount Semeru has erupted again. Mount 3,676 meters above sea level (masl) emitted smoke up to 1,000 meters or 1 kilometer on Friday, January 13.

"Based on the reports we received, 4 eruptions were observed with a height of about 500-1,000 meters of smoke, the color of gray white smoke leaning towards the north and southwest," said Head of Prevention and Preparedness Division of the Lumajang Regency BPBD, Wawan Hadi Siswoyo, Friday, January 13, confiscated by Antara.

Based on reports from the Semeru Volcano Observation Post (PPGA) until January 13 at 06.00 WIB, visually three avalanches were observed with a sliding distance of 800 meters towards Besuk Kobokan.

"For seismic activity, 19 eruptions were recorded with an amplitude of 13-22 mm, then one avalanche with an amplitude of 4 mm, one gust with an amplitude of 3 mm, and two distant tectonics with an amplitude of 10-20 mm," he said.

He explained that the activity of Mount Semeru every day experienced an eruption and this was a natural thing in line with the status of the highest mountain on the island of Java being at level III or Alert.

"So far there has been no impact due to the Semeru eruption that emits smoke with a height of 1,000 meters, but the Rapid Response Team (TRC) continues to monitor developments in the field," he said.

In accordance with the recommendations of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), the public is advised not to carry out any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan as far as 13 km from the summit or eruption center.

Outside this distance, people are also prohibited from carrying 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 km from the summit.

"People are advised 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)," he said.

The public is also asked to be aware of the potential for hot clouds of avalanches (APG), lava avalanches, and lahars along rivers that originate at the peak of Mount Semeru, especially along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat as well as the potential for lahars in small rivers which are tributaries of Besuk Kobokan.