Mount Semeru Volcanic Activity Intensifies, Residents Alerted

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (EMR) Muhammad Wafid said that the seismic record generated from Mount Semeru’s activity is still high.

"The increasingly intensive deep volcanic earthquakes and harmonic tremors recorded indicate the intensification of magma supply from below the surface of Mount Semeru along with the release of material to the surface and the process of accumulation of erupted material around the Jonggring Seloko crater," he said on Tuesday, 16 April 2024.

Data recorded by Mount Semeru monitoring equipment also found flood tremors indicating a lava flow in the rivers upstream of Mount Semeru, especially those leading to the Besuk Kobokan stream. "Earthquakes associated with lava flow were recorded several times," said Wafid.

Wafid added that Tiltmeter equipment at Argosuko Station and Jawar Station, and GPS data, showed inflation patterns in the mountain's body. "The inflation pattern both at the bottom and the top of the body of Mount Semeru is correlated with the continued transfer of pressure from the body of the volcano to the surface along with the release of material during eruptions and gusts," he said.

The Geological Agency still maintains the activity status of Mount Semeru at Level III or Alert with additional recommendations to adjust the potential threat of danger. The recommendation includes avoiding any activity in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan as far as 13 kilometers from the mountain peak.

The general public is also asked to avoid activities within 500 meters of the riverbank along Besuk Kobokan up to 17 kilometers from the summit. Residents are also warned to avoid carrying out activities within a 5-kilometer radius of the crater. Residents must be wary of hot clouds and lava along the river upstream of Mount Semeru.

The last recorded activity of Mount Semeru occurred on March 28, 2024, at 03:18 p.m. local time, propelling hot clouds followed by lava flow. Visual monitoring observed white and grey smoke in the main crater with a height of 50-300 meters. Eruptions and lava flows that occur are rarely observed due to foggy weather, although rumbling sounds are often heard during the eruptions.

"Lava and or hot cloud material deposited along the river flow upstream at the top of Mount Semeru could potentially become lava if it interacts with rainwater. In addition, the interaction of high-temperature lava or hot cloud material deposits with river water will have the potential for secondary eruptions," said Wafid.

AHMAD FIKRI

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