Mount Semeru, located on the border of Lumajang and Malang regencies in East Java, erupted multiple times, sending ash columns up to 1,000m above its summit.
Mount Semeru Observation Post officer Sigit Rian Alfian said the volcano recorded six eruptions from early morning with the latest eruption occurring at 9.23am local time yesterday.
“The observed height of the eruption column at around 1,000m above the summit or 4,676m above sea level, and the ash column was white to grey with thick intensity drifting towards the west and northwest,” he said according to Antara news agency yesterday.
Sigit said earlier eruptions were recorded at 5.45am, 7.36am, 7.52am, 8.17am and 8.53am with column heights ranging between 500m and 1km above the summit.
Mount Semeru, the highest peak on Java Island, remains at Level III (Alert) status, prompting Indonesia’s Centre for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation to impose restrictions on public activity.
Heightened activity was also recorded on Saturday with 11 eruption recorded and ash columns ranging from 600m to 1,500m above the summit.
Sigit said authorities have prohibited any activities within 13km southeast of the summit along Besuk Kobokan, a key drainage channel, and within 500m of riverbanks in the area due to the risk of pyroclastic flows and lahar that could extend up to 17km.
He said residents are also barred from entering a 5km radius of the crater due to the danger of volcanic material being ejected. — Bernama
