Bandung, IndonesiaSentinel.com — Mount Semeru, located in Lumajang, East Java, has erupted once more, marking the ninth recorded eruptions as of Friday, September 20, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. local time. The first eruption occurred earlier on the day at 6:11 a.m., sending columns of ash into the air. The ash cloud, observed to be white to gray in color, rose to a height of 300 meters above the summit, with moderate intensity, drifting southward.
“Mount Semeru erupted with ash columns reaching around 300 meters above the peak. The status remains on alert,” said Liswanto, Head of the Mount Semeru Observation Post, in a written statement on Friday.
Previous Eruptions
This eruption follows a similar event earlier in the week. On Tuesday, September 17, Mount Semeru, standing at 3,676 meters above sea level, experienced a series of eruptions. Between 8:24 a.m. and 10:24 a.m. local time,
The volcano erupted eight times within two hours, sending ash clouds 200 to 500 meters above the summit of Mahameru. The first eruption that day produced a column of ash rising 400 meters above the peak, observed to be white to gray in color, moving northward.
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Current Status of Mount Semeru
Authorities have maintained Semeru’s alert status, warning local residents to avoid certain areas. The Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) has issued a no-activity zone for the southeast sector, extending along the Besuk Kobokan River for up to eight kilometers from the summit, which serves as the eruption’s epicenter.
In addition, people are prohibited from engaging in activities within 500 meters of the riverbanks along Besuk Kobokan, as this area may be affected by expanding hot clouds and and lahar flows, potentially reaching up to 13 kilometers from the summit.
Liswanto also emphasized the importance of staying clear of a three-kilometer radius from the crater due to the danger of rock projectiles. Residents are urged to remain vigilant against the risk of hot clouds, lava flows, and lahars along rivers and valleys originating from Mount Semeru’s summit, particularly in smaller streams.
(Raidi/Agung)
