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According to officials, these people were staying at a camping area called Ranu Kumbolo, which is outside the main danger zone. However, volcanic ash reached there as well, causing difficulties for climbers.
Volcano Eruption on Mount Semeru
Jakarta: Around 178 climbers and locals were trapped after a sudden eruption of Mount Semeru, the country's highest volcano, on the Indonesian island of Java. Indonesian officials said on Thursday that all were being safely rescued. According to officials, these people were staying at a camping area called Ranu Kumbolo, which is outside the main danger zone. However, volcanic ash reached there as well, causing difficulties for climbers.
Another official from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation, Hetty Tristutti, said that Ranu Kumbolo is a safe area, outside the main danger zone, eight kilometers (5 miles) from the crater. The camping area is on the northern slope of the mountain, not in the path of hot clouds seen moving south-southeast.
Hot ash, gas, and rocks spread for 13 kilometers
The volcanic eruption continued from Wednesday afternoon until evening. During this period, hot ash, gas, and rocks spread for 13 kilometers on Mount Semeru. A plume of smoke nearly two kilometers high rose into the air after the eruption.
Scientists have raised the alert level to the highest level due to this dangerous activity. Officials have warned against going within the 8-kilometer danger zone. The Bisuk Kobokan River Valley is at greatest risk, as hot lava and gases are flowing downstream from there.
Thousands of people evacuated from three villages
Nearly 1,000 people have been evacuated from three villages as a precaution. No deaths have been reported, but the ash has darkened several villages, a strong sulfur smell has been felt, and two motorcyclists have been injured.
Muhammad Wafid, head of Indonesia's Geology Agency, said Mount Semeru in East Java province spewed a burning cloud of hot ash and a mixture of rock, lava, and gas that traveled continuously down its slopes for 13 kilometers (8 miles) from Wednesday afternoon until evening, while a thick plume of hot clouds rose two kilometers (1.2 miles) into the air, prompting scientists to raise the volcano's alert to the highest level.
He said a series of pyroclastic density currents descended the mountain's slopes, and strong avalanches of volcanic material were seen descending the Besuk Kobokan River valley on the southern flank. Wafid said, "Seismic activity at Mount Semeru showed that the eruption continued at a high level, and the number of avalanche signals was increasing."
Mount Semeru experienced a major eruption in December 2021
Mount Semeru, also known as Mahameru, has erupted several times in history. A major eruption in December 2021 killed 51 people and destroyed thousands of homes. Indonesia lies in the "Ring of Fire" region, so earthquakes and volcanic activity are common here.
