Jakarta (VNA) – Mount Semeru, located on the border of Lumajang and Malang districts in East Java, erupted again on November 18 morning, sending an ash column 800 metres above its summit.
Sigit Rian Alfian, an officer at the Mount Semeru Observation Post, said that the eruption occurred at 06:11. The ash column appeared white to gray with dense intensity and drifted southward. Its height reached approximately 4,476 metres above sea level.
The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 22 mm and a duration of 112 seconds.
Mount Semeru remains at Level II or Alert status.
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) advised residents to avoid the southeastern area, particularly along Besuk Kobokan within an eight-kilometer radius of the summit.
Beyond that radius, residents are also urged to stay at least 500 metres away from the riverbanks along Besuk Kobokan due to the potential for pyroclastic flows and lahars that may travel up to 13 kilometers from the summit.
Authority also urged the public to avoid activities within a three-kilometer radius of the crater due to the risk of incandescent rock ejections.
Residents are further advised to remain alert for possible pyroclastic flows, lava avalanches, and rain-triggered lahars along rivers and valleys that originate at the summit of Mount Semeru, including Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, Besuk Sat, and smaller tributaries connected to Besuk Kobokan.
Mount Semeru is the highest active volcano on Java Island, with its Mahameru summit reaching 3,676 meters above sea level./.
