Mount Semeru Erupts; Airlines Warned of Potential Flight Disruption

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Mount Semeru, located on the border of Lumajang Regency and Malang, East Java, has erupted again this afternoon.

"Mount Semeru erupted on Friday, February 2, 2024, at 03:21 p.m. local time, with an eruption column of about 1,300 meters above the peak or 4,976 meters above sea level," said Semeru Volcano Observation Post officer Sigit Rian Alfian as reported by Antara on Friday, February 2, 2024

The ash column was thick and gray, leaning northeast at 3,676 meters above sea level.

"The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 23 mm and a duration of 124 seconds," he said.

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has also set a notification for flight safety (VONA/Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation) at orange status.

This status indicates a potential eruption and asks airlines to be more vigilant. The code also marks eruptions with the potential to endanger flights, so each aircraft must avoid the area around the mountain.

In his written report, the Mount Semeru Observation Post Officer on Mount Sawur Lumajang urged to the public avoid any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, as far as 13 kilometers from the summit.

Beyond that distance, residents are not allowed to carry out activities at a distance of 500 meters from the riverbanks along Besuk Kobokan because it has the potential to be affected by the expansion of hot clouds and lava flows up to 17 kilometers from the summit.

Residents are also prohibited within a 5-kilometer radius of the Mount Semeru crater and urged to stay vigilant of hot clouds and lava flowing from the rivers, especially along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat.

ANTARA

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