MOUNT SEMERU ERUPTS FIVE TIMES, PYROCLASTIC FLOWS TRAVEL UP TO 3KM

JAKARTA, Feb 13 (Bernama) -- Indonesia’s Mount Semeru in East Java erupted five times on Friday, triggering pyroclastic flows that travelled up to 3,000 metres, authorities said.

Mount Semeru Observation Post officer Sigit Rian Alfian said 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 7.42 am local time, Antara News Agency reported. 

He said the first three eruptions occurred at 7.42 am, 10.56 am and 12.46 pm, each sending an eruption column about 1,000 metres above the summit, with a pyroclastic flow travelling up to 3,000 metres towards the southeast during the second eruption.

He said the volcano erupted again at 2.22 pm, producing an eruption column about 800 metres above the summit and a pyroclastic flow that travelled 2,500 metres 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,” he said.

He urged the public to comply with the recommendations of the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) and advised them not to carry out any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan within a radius of 13 kilometres from 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.

-- BERNAMA