The Vulcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) reported an eruption from Mount Semeru that prompted an alert level 3, warning locals to stay clear of the area for safety.
Mount Semeru in East Java erupted on Wednesday emitting clouds of heat and ash as high as 700 meters.
Vulcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) head Ahmad Basuki said the eruption took place at around 10:53 a.m local time.
“We observed thick ash columns that were white, gray and brown in color leaning toward the south and southwest,” Ahmad said.
The PVMBG reported that the eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 22 millimeters and lasted for around two minutes and 22 seconds.
The center also observed hot clouds from Mount Semeru rolling down the volcano approximately 1 kilometer toward Besuk Kobokan, Lumajang regency.
Due to the incident, the mountain is on level 3 alert status. The PVMBG has advised residents to refrain from conducting activities in the southeastern region of Besuk Kobokan up to 13 km from the eruption center.
“Beyond that distance, people should not carry out activities within 500 meters of the riverbanks along Besuk Kobokan because there is the potential of expansion of hot clouds and lava flows [along the channels] up to a distance of 17 km from the peak,” Ahmad said.
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