Indonesia's Mount Semeru erupts six times in hours... Ash columns exceed one thousand meters

Mount Semeru, the highest peak on the Indonesian island of Java, erupted five times on Friday, releasing dense plumes of volcanic ash that rose more than 1,000 meters above the summit. Authorities maintained the alert level at Level 3 and warned residents to stay away from hazardous areas.

The Indonesian news agency Antara, citing volcano monitor Liso Anto, reported that the first eruption produced an ash column reaching approximately 1.1 kilometers above the summit, drifting toward the southwest. The second eruption’s ash column rose to about 1.3 kilometers and moved toward the north and northeast.

The agency added that the third eruption generated an ash column about 1.2 kilometers high. The fourth and fifth eruptions each produced ash columns reaching roughly 500 meters, while the sixth eruption’s ash column rose to approximately 800 meters and drifted south.

Indonesian authorities confirmed that the volcanic alert level remains at Level 3, urging residents to avoid all activities within a 13-kilometer radius of the crater in the southeastern sector, in anticipation of potential hot ash clouds or volcanic mudflows (lahars).

Mount Semeru is one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes. In recent years, it has experienced several violent eruptions, most notably in December 2021, which killed dozens and destroyed entire villages.