Semeru Volcano Erupts in Indonesia, Causes Panic on Java Island

In Indonesia, on the island of Java, which is the most populous, the highest volcano in the archipelago has erupted; and ejected a mile-high column of ash into the sky, forcing thousands of people to flee the area. Mount Semeru surveillance cameras captured the picturesque images, clouds of gas and water vapor mixed with a significant amount of ash. And authorities declared high alert, raising the level from 3 to 4, the highest. The eruption of Semeru, 3,676 meters high and one of the most active volcanoes in the country, sowed terror among the inhabitants of the city of Lumajang, forcing many to abandon their homes and flee in a hurry. Several hundred people have been moved to temporary shelters and other safe areas, said Joko Sambang, who is in charge of the disaster management agency in the area.

Despite the panic, so far there have been no reports of casualties or material damage, but emergency teams are monitoring the situation to control any “risk” of an explosion. People were advised to stay within 5 km of the crater mouth and avoid the area because Semeru ejects incandescent rocks; and also advised to stay away from the bank of the Besuk Kobokan river, located about 13 km from the crater. The last eruption of Mount Semeru, exactly one year ago, in December 2021, killed at least 51 people: flows of mud and ash engulfed entire villages and nearly 10,000 people were forced to flee their homes. Indonesia is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where continental plates meet and cause strong volcanic and seismic activity. The archipelago has about 130 active volcanoes and is shaken every year by thousands of seismic tremors, fortunately, most of mild or moderate magnitude.