Highest alert level after eruption of Indonesian volcano Semeru | Abroad

The Center for Volcanology and Disaster Prevention (PVMBG) has raised the alert level for Semeru from level three to four. “That means that the danger in the populated areas and the activity of the volcano have increased,” said spokesman Hendra Gunawan on television channel Kompas TV.

The smoke plume has reached a height of 15 kilometers. The volcano spews hot ash 1500 meters into the air, after which it spreads in a radius of 7 kilometers. Lava also flows from the volcano. People are urged to stay away from the immediate area. Access to the area around the volcano is limited. Most roads are closed.

Special shelters have been opened for local residents and authorities are handing out masks. After the eruption, the internet was interrupted and there were problems with the mobile telephone network, a journalist from the AFP news agency noticed on the spot. As far as is known, there have been no casualties.

The Semeru erupted after a series of earthquakes in Java, one of which killed more than 330 people last month. The volcano, with a height of almost 3700 meters, is the highest point in Java. The mountain is located in the eastern part of the island, about 640 kilometers from the capital Jakarta.

Japan’s meteorological agency issued a tsunami alert for the islands of Miyako and Yaeyama, in the south of the archipelago, after the volcanic eruption. An hour later, no damage was reported, according to Kyodo news agency.

A year ago, the volcano Semeru also erupted. More than 50 people were killed and nearly 10,000 people had to flee their homes as ash and mudslides engulfed villages.

Indonesia has 130 active volcanoes.