An Indonesian volcano has erupted and spewed an enormous 54,000ft ash cloud, causing Australia to trigger a red flight safety warning.
Mount Semeru, located on the border of Lumajang District and Malang District in East Java, erupted on Tuesday morning at 6.11am local time.
Australia’s Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) issued a warning about the enormous volcanic ash plume, visible in astonishing footage posted on social media by civilians running to safety.
‘The ash column was observed to be gray with thick intensity to the north and northwest. At the time of this report, the eruption was still ongoing,’ Mount Semeru Observation Post Officer, Mukdas Sofian said.
Mount Semeru is at Alert or Level II status and the public have been warned to avoid the southeastern area, especially along Besuk Kobokan within 8km from the summit.
‘Beyond that distance, the community should not carry out activities within 500m of the riverbank along Besuk Kobokan because of the potential for being hit by the expansion of hot clouds and lava flows up to a distance of 13km from the peak,’ Sofian said.
He also urged residents to avoid being within a 3km radius of the crater to avoid any incandescent rock ejections.
‘The public is also asked to be aware of the potential for hot clouds, lava flows, and lahars along rivers/valleys that originate at the peak of Mount Semeru Volcano, especially along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat, as well as the potential for lahars in small rivers that are tributaries of Besuk Kobokan,’ Sofian said.
The dense ash column appeared white to gray and drifted southward.
Semeru – also known as ‘The Great Mountain’ – is the highest active volcano in Java at 3,676m (12,060ft).
The East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has evacuated elderly residents from Pronojiwo District and Candipuro District, Lumajang.
In a translated written statement the East Java BPBD said: ‘The Rapid Response Team (TRC) of the Lumajang Regency BPBD carried out patrols and helped evacuate the elderly to safer places.
‘The pyroclastic flow is still ongoing, with a maximum amplitude of 40mm. The pyroclastic flow reached a distance of 8.5km from the mountain peak. The wind direction is towards the north.’
Japan Meteorological Agency is investigating whether there is possibility of tsunami following the eruption.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
