JAKARTA, March 29 — Mount Semeru in East Java erupted nine times today, with the latest eruption sending an ash column up to 800m above its summit and triggering pyroclastic flows that travelled 3.5km down its southeastern slopes.
ANTARA News Agency reported Mount Semeru Observation Post officer Mukdas Sofian as saying that the volcano, the highest on Java Island, has been erupting since 12.21am, with the ninth eruption recorded at 8.49am.
“The ash column at 8.49am was observed to be white to grey with thick intensity drifting toward the southwest, while seismic recordings showed a maximum amplitude of 22 mm and a duration of about four minutes and six seconds,” he said.
Mukdas added that the strongest eruption occurred at 1.01am, producing an ash column that reached approximately 1,000m above the summit, with moderate-intensity drift southwest.
The authorities said Mount Semeru remains at Level III (Alert) status.
Residents are advised not to carry out any activities within 13km in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan.
They are also prohibited from being within 500m of riverbanks along the same area due to the risk of pyroclastic flow expansion, and lahar flows reaching up to 17km from the summit.
In addition, the public is barred from activities within a 5km radius of the crater due to the danger of incandescent rock ejections.
