Indonesia's Semeru volcano erupts 4 times, ash columns reaching 800 metres

 

Semeru volcano in Indonesia’s East Java province erupted four times on Tuesday. —AFP

JAKARTA: Semeru volcano in Indonesia's East Java province erupted four times on Tuesday, spewing gray ash up to 800 metres above its summit, according to the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), Xinhua reported.

"The initial eruption occurred at 5.55 am local time, with an ash column reaching 800 metres to the north, followed by a second eruption at 6.30 am, with a 700-metre ash column headed northeast for 120 seconds," said Yadi Yuliandi, an officer at the Semeru Volcano Observation Post.

The third explosion at 8.41 am lasted 113 seconds, while the fourth, at 12.08 pm, lasted 135 seconds and ejected ash up to 800 metres high.

The 3,676-metre-high volcano, located on the boundary of Lumajang and Malang regencies, is now at the second level of danger.

The PVMBG has recommended that the public avoid any operations within a 3 kilometres (km) and 8 km radius to the southeast of the summit, as well as avoid river courses that originate from Semeru's peak.

– BERNAMA