Mount Semeru, Indonesia’s tallest volcano, erupted on December 4, releasing gas and lava flows affecting multiple populated areas.
Mount Semeru, also known as Mahameru, is an active volcano located on the Island of Java, Indonesia’s most populated island. The volcano stands at an elevation of nearly 12,000 feet and is the largest of 129 active volcanoes in the region.
Indonesia rests along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area of frequent seismic and volcanic activity. Mount Semeru’s last major eruption occurred in December 2021, killing 51 people, injuring many more, and causing the evacuation of 10,000 people.
Although the volcano has erupted numerous times in the last 200 years, tens of thousands of people continue to live on its fertile slopes.
Monsoon rains reportedly eroded and eventually collapsed the lava dome atop Mount Semeru, resulting in the eruption, said Eko Budi Lelono, who heads the geological survey center.
Officials monitoring the volcano’s activity raised the alert level from III to IV, the highest level, on December 4 in consideration of potential hazards and assessments from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG). Alert Level IV warns of hot clouds, lava flow, and lahar flow.
This volcano produced lava river flows as well as hot cloud avalanches, according to a press release. Thick columns of ash were blasted nearly 5,000 feet into the air, blocking out the sky, while searing gas and lava flowed down the volcano’s slopes toward a nearby river.
The Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management reported that nearly 2,000 people were displaced to 11 evacuation points.
This eruption affected Pronojowo, Rowokangkung, Candipuro, and Pasirian Sub Districts in Lumajang Regency in East Java. Several villages were blanketed with volcanic ash, but no casualties have been reported.
Local disaster management officials distributed medical masks to the adults and children of affected villages. Department of Social Affairs and Red Cross Indonesia will establish a public kitchen in the four most heavily affected subdistricts.
The PVMBG urged people to stay at least 3 miles from the volcano’s summit.
Local officials are still conducting damage and impact assessments.
This is the second major instance of volcanic activity recently, as Mauna Loa in Hawaii erupted following a 38-year-long gap.