Mount Semeru Volcano Erupts, Hot Ash Reaches Several Miles

(MENAFN) Indonesia’s Mount Semeru in East Java erupted early Saturday, releasing intense clouds of heat and ash that traveled nearly four miles from the volcano’s summit, as stated by reports.

The first eruption occurred at 5:54 a.m. local time (2254 GMT Friday), with hot clouds moving southeast toward the Besuk Kobokan river area, according to officials at a Semeru observation post. Ash spread north and northeast, creating a dense gray column rising about 2,000 meters above the peak.

A second eruption followed at 7:25 a.m., producing an ash plume that reached 1,500 meters above the summit. Seismic monitoring indicated significant volcanic tremors during both events, as reported by local authorities.

Mount Semeru, located along the border of Lumajang and Malang regencies in East Java, is currently at Level III Alert, Indonesia’s second-highest warning status. Authorities have advised residents and visitors to stay at least 13 kilometers (8 miles) away from the crater in the southeast sector, particularly near the Besuk Kobokan river.

Officials also cautioned against approaching riverbanks within 500 meters due to the danger of lava flows and the possibility of expanding hot clouds that could extend up to 17 kilometers from the summit.

Indonesia, part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is prone to frequent seismic and volcanic activity and is home to more than 120 active volcanoes. According to reports, there have been no immediate accounts of major damage from the eruptions.

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