Mount Semeru Erupts Four Times, Ash Column Reaches 600 Metres

JAKARTA, March 12 (Bernama) -- Mount Semeru, located on the border of Lumajang and Malang regencies in East Java, erupted four times on Thursday, with the highest ash column reaching 600 metres above the summit.

According to Mount Semeru Observation Post officer Liswanto, the first eruption occurred at 12.27 am Western Indonesian Time (WIB), followed by another at 12.31 am, though the eruption columns were not visually observed.

“Mount Semeru erupted again at 5.28 am WIB with the ash column observed at around 600 metres above the summit, or about 4,276 metres above sea level,” he said, according to ANTARA News Agency.

Liswanto said the volcano erupted again at 5.46 am WIB, producing an ash column reaching around 300 metres above the summit.

Liswanto said Mount Semeru remains at Level III (Alert) volcanic activity status.

Indonesia’s Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has advised the public not to carry out any activities within a 13-kilometre radius in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan from the summit.

Residents are also warned to remain alert for potential hot clouds, lava avalanches, and lahar flows along rivers originating from the volcano’s summit.

-- BERNAMA