Mount Semeru spews out 800m ash column in triple eruption as individuals run for his or her lives
Mount Semeru, located on the border of Lumajang and Malang districts in East Java, Indonesia has erupted three times with thousands of residents evacuated
A volcano has erupted spewing a 800m ash column up into the air. Mount Semeru on Indonesia’s main island of East Java has erupted three times, as residents ran for their lives.
Thousands of people have been evacuated. The first eruption happened at 4.10am. Western Indonesian Time (WIB), with an observed plume height of approximately 500 meters above the summit. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 22 mm and a duration of 142 seconds, said Mukdas Sofian, an officer at the Mount Semeru Observation Post.
The highest mountain on Java Island then erupted again at 5.09am with a third at 6.05am today (November 19).
The Australia Volcanic Ash Advisory has issued a red aviation warning due to the ash plume which has risen to 54,000ft
One clip captured the “avalanche” of ash cascading into the valleys below, while more images showed plumes of smoke billowing high into the air.
“The Lumajang Regency BPBD Rapid Response Team (TRC) conducted patrols and helped evacuate elderly people to safer places,” said the East Java East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency in a written statement.
Authorities recorded that the volcano’s activity raised to alert level and it says that “pyroclastic flow” is still ongoing.
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