Mount Semeru Erupts in Indonesia, Triggering Evacuations and Highest Alert Level
East Java, Indonesia – Mount Semeru, the highest peak on Java island, erupted today, sending plumes of ash and searing clouds of hot gas and rock down its slopes, prompting evacuations and a raising of the alert level to its highest. The eruptions, beginning midday and continuing into the evening, unleashed flows traveling up to 7km (4 miles) and a thick column of hot clouds reaching 2km into the air, according to Indonesia’s Geology Agency.
Authorities have evacuated over 300 residents from three villages in the Lumajang district to government shelters, and have widened the danger zone to 8km (5 miles) from the crater. Residents are being warned to stay clear of the Besuk Kobokan River,the anticipated path of the lava flow and searing gas.
Approximately 178 people, including 137 climbers, 15 porters, seven guides, and six tourism officials, were initially stranded at the Ranu Kumbolo monitoring post on the mountain. Endrip Wahyutama, a spokesperson for the bromo-Tengger-Semeru national park (TNBTS), confirmed they are currently safe at the post, located 4.5km from the crater on the northern slope, outside the path of the hot cloud flow. Bad weather has delayed their descent.
this is not the frist time Semeru has erupted in recent history. A major eruption in December 2021 resulted in 51 fatalities, hundreds of injuries, and the evacuation of over 10,000 people. Despite the risks, tens of thousands continue to live on the fertile slopes of the volcano.
Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 280 million people, is situated within the Pacific “ring of fire” and is therefore highly susceptible to both earthquakes and volcanic activity.No casualties have been reported as an inevitable result of today’s eruption.
