JAKARTA: Mount Semeru, the highest volcano on Indonesia’s Java island, erupted multiple times on Sunday (April 5) morning, sending ash clouds up to 1,000m above its summit and releasing hot clouds, fast-moving flows of superheated gas, ash, and rock that travelled as far as 3.5km.
Observation Post officer Yadi Yuliandi said the volcano located along the border of Lumajang and Malang regencies in East Java province first erupted at 2.02am local time, producing an ash column rising about 1,000 metres above the peak, or 4,676 metres above sea level, with the plume appearing grey and dense as it drifted westward.
"The eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 22 mm and a duration of approximately 3 minutes and 29 seconds,” he said, as reported by Antara News Agency.
Yadi said the volcano erupted again at 6.55 am, producing an ash column about 800 metres above the summit and was recorded with similar seismic intensity lasting 134 seconds.
He said, a further eruption occurred at 7.02am, sending volcanic ash up to 600 metres above the peak.
Subsequent eruptions were recorded at 7.53 am, with an ash column reaching 800 metres, while another eruption at 8.50 am could not be visually observed due to thick fog covering the mountain, he added. - Bernama
