JAKARTA (Bernama-Xinhua): Mount Semeru, located in Indonesia's East Java province, erupted on Sunday, prompting the country's Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation to issue an aviation warning and thousands were told to be on evacuation alert.
A thick column of white-to-grey ash rose up to more than 1,000 metres into the sky, drifting northeast from the crater, according to the centre's report.
Authorities issued the second-highest aviation warning, designating an orange Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation, restricting flights within five kilometres (km) of the volcano.
A 3-km danger zone has been declared, while the southeastern area of the volcano has a designated danger radius extending up to 8 km from the crater.
Beyond these areas, authorities have prohibited residents from engaging in any activities within 500 metres of rivers originating from the volcano's slopes due to potential lava flows and hot clouds possibly extending up to 13 km.
Mount Semeru, standing 3,676 metres high, is one of Indonesia's 127 active volcanoes. - Bernama-Xinhua
