Mount Semeru spews thick ash on Dec. 4, 2022, in Lumajang, East Java. - AFP
JAKARTA: Mount Semeru, located on the border between Lumajang and Malang in East Java, erupted several times on Thursday (Jan 9), spewing columns of ash into the air and prompting authorities to warn residents to stay away from the eruption area.
Data from the Semeru Observation Post in Lumajang showed that the volcano had erupted three times between midnight and 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, with ash columns varying in height between 500 meters and 1,000 metres above the mountain’s summit.
“The first eruption occurred at 02:47 a.m. and the plume reached 1,000 meters above the peak. The seismic record showed a maximum amplitude of 22 [millimetres] with a duration of 115 seconds," Semeru Observation Post official Mukdas Sofian said, as reported by Kompas.
Two other eruptions occurred at around 04:00 a.m. and 07:00 a.m. with lower ash columns of 500 and 600 meters high respectively. Authorities have maintained Mt. Semeru's status at Level II for Waspada (advisory) on the four-tier volcano alert system, and advised people to avoid activities within a southeastern area stretching 8 km to the Besuk Kobokan River, the projected path of the lava flow.
Officials also cautioned the public to stay clear of areas within 500 meters of the river because of the potential for pyroclastic clouds and lahars that could extend up to 13 kilometres from the summit.
Additionally, residents are prohibited from engaging in any activities within a 3-km radius of the summit because of the risk of falling rocks. In addition to Besuk Kobokan, residents are also asked to be alert for potential pyroclastic clouds, lava or lahars along the Besuk Kembar and Besuk Sat rivers and their tributaries.
Semeru has been showing heightened volcanic activity since November of last year. The 3,676-meter-high volcano has erupted more than 100 times since the beginning of the year, with 43 of those eruptions occurring on Tuesday alone.
The volcano experienced two massive eruptions in the past few years, including an eruption in December of 2021 that killed 51 people and forced nearly 10,000 others to flee their homes. In December of the following year, authorities were forced to evacuate 2,000 residents living around the mountain after it spewed a cloud of ash 15km into the sky.
Authorities have kept the summit of Semeru off-limits to the public since 2019 because of a combination of heightened volcanic activity and the Covid-19 pandemic. Before the closure, Semeru, the highest mountain on Java Island, was one of the country’s most popular hiking destinations, attracting between 200,000 and 300,000 visitors annually
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni reopened parts of Semeru on Dec. 23 last year, allowing trekkers to access the scenic Ranu Kumbolo lake located at the foot of the volcano. Only 200 climbers are allowed per day, and solo hiking is strictly prohibited. All trekkers must also be accompanied by a registered guide from the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS).
During the reopening, Raja said that climbing to the summit remains prohibited because of safety concerns. He explained that five years of inactivity have led to dense overgrowth along most climbing routes, creating additional hazards for hikers.
However, on Jan 2, authorities once again closed down all access to Mt. Semeru because of extreme weather conditions. The popular trekking route is expected to reopen on Jan. 17, officials said. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
