JAKARTA, Feb 13 — Mount Semeru in East Java, Indonesia, erupted five times today, triggering pyroclastic flows that travelled up to 3,000 metres.
ANTARA News Agency reported Mount Semeru Observation Post officer Sigit Rian Alfian as saying that the volcano, located on the border of Lumajang and Malang regencies, remains at Alert status (Level III) following the series of eruptions that began at 7.42am local time.
The first three eruptions occurred at 7.42am, 10.56am, and 12.46pm, each sending an eruption column about 1km above the summit, with a pyroclastic flow travelling up to 3km towards the southeast during the second eruption.
He said the volcano erupted again at 2.22pm, producing an eruption column about 800m above the summit and a pyroclastic flow that travelled 2.5km towards the southeast.
“A pyroclastic flow occurred again during the fifth eruption at 2.31pm with a sliding distance of approximately 2,500 metres towards the southeast, or Besuk Kobokan,” Rian said.
He urged the public to comply with the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre's (PVMBG) recommendations, advising them from carrying out any activities in the southeast sector of Besuk Kobokan within a 13km radius of the summit.
Residents were also asked to remain alert to the potential of pyroclastic flows, lava avalanches, and lahar flows along river channels and valleys originating from the summit of Mount Semeru, especially along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat, as well as the potential for lahar flows in smaller tributaries connected to Besuk Kobokan.
