Kuwait city: Indonesia's Mount Semeru volcano in East Java province erupted five times on Wednesday, sending ash plumes 600 to 1,000 meters above the summit prompting local authorities to issue warnings to residents to avoid areas prone to lava and ash flows.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the first eruption was recorded in the early morning hours and produced a white ash plume that rose 800 meters above the summit, as reported by a Semeru volcano monitoring official. The volcano erupted again 10 minutes after the first eruption. The third eruption occurred this morning, sending an ash plume 900 meters high, while the fourth eruption was recorded minutes after the third, with the ash column reaching a height of 1,000 meters. The fifth eruption occurred an hour later.
The agency confirmed that the status of Mount Semeru remains at level 2 alert, urging local residents to stay away from the southeast area of the volcano. Geological monitoring teams continue to monitor the volcano's activity continuously in anticipation of any sudden developments that may affect the safety of surrounding villages or vital roads in the area.
Mount Semeru is the highest mountain on the island of Java and one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia. It has repeatedly erupted in recent years, causing significant human and material damages.