By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar
JAKARTA, April 19 (Bernama) -- At least 32 families in Lumajang, East Java were voluntarily relocated to safer areas following an overflow of cold lava floods triggered by Mount Semeru last Thursday.
The cold lava floods occurred after moderate to heavy rainfall in the Mount Semeru area throughout the evening, causing the Regoyo River basin to overflow and flood nearby settlements.
The Lumajang Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) deployed a boat to accelerate the relocation process after the flood damaged three bridges and submerged the main road.
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has asked local authorities to implement mitigation measures by regularly monitoring rainfall potential.
BNPB spokesperson, Abdul Muhari, emphasized the importance of protecting residents and visitors around the Regoyo River basin to minimize the impact in case of repeated cold lava floods.
Mount Semeru, one of the active volcanoes in Indonesia, erupted on Friday at 6:45 AM Western Indonesian Time, spewing ash up to 500 meters into the air from the crater.
This followed an eruption on Thursday at 12:34 AM, which saw ash plumes reach about 800 meters into the air from the crater, according to the country's Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).
Mount Semeru, a popular hiking destination, remains at a Level III warning status to date.
-- BERNAMA
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