Lumajang, E Java (ANTARA) – Mount Semeru on the border of East Java’s Lumajang and Malang districts erupted on Friday morning, sending an ash column 800 meters above the volcano’s summit.
“Mount Semeru erupted at 6:20 a.m. local time, with the column reaching about 800 meters above the summit or 4,476 meters above sea level,” Semeru monitoring officer, Liswanto, said.
The ash column was white to gray with moderate intensity and drifted southwest. The eruption was still ongoing when the report was issued, Liswanto said.
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Earlier Friday, Semeru erupted twice, at 5:02 a.m. with an ash column about 500 meters above the summit and at 5:17 a.m. with a column about 700 meters high.
Mount Semeru remains at Level III or Alert, with authorities advising residents against activities in the southeast sector along the Besuk Kobokan River within 13 kilometers of the summit.
Beyond the area, residents are also barred from activities within 500 meters of the riverbank along Besuk Kobokan since hot clouds and lahars could travel up to 17 kilometers from the summit.
Authorities also prohibit activity within a 5-kilometer radius of Semeru’s crater because of the risk of incandescent rock ejections.
Residents have been urged to watch for hot clouds, lava avalanches, and lahars along rivers and valleys originating at Semeru’s summit.
The warning applies particularly to the Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar and Besuk Sat rivers, as well as smaller tributaries of Besuk Kobokan, Liswanto said.
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Translator: Zumrotun S, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fransiska Ninditya
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