TEMPO.CO, Lumajang - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNBP) Head, Syamsul Maarif, monitored the activity of Mt. Semeru by visiting Mt Semeru Observation Outpost in Sumberwuluh Village, Lumajang Regency yesterday. Syamsul has received a report saying the mountain is now in alert status.
"According to the Volcanology Center, the threat comes from the hot cloud. [Mount] Semeru is similar to [Mount] Merapi although they behave differently," said Syamsul. Mount Semeru has the potential to spewing hot clouds and cold lava. The regular minor eruptions are good to prevent the energy build-up inside the mountain that could trigger major eruption.
To anticipate the major eruption impact of Mt Semeru, BNPB and the local government have made an operation contingency. The status of the mountain has been announced and residents are forbidden from doing activities in certain zones on the foot of the mountain.
"There is red, yellow, and green radius," Syamsul said.
The Semeru Volcanic Observation Outpost head, Suparno, said there have yet to be hot cloud avalanches so far. Normally, the happening of avalanches will be preceded by harmonic tremor.
DAVID PRIYASIDHARTA