Indonesian authorities have evacuated more than 900 people and on Thursday (November 20), assisted 170 stranded hikers to return safely following the eruption of Mount Semeru, one of Indonesia’s highest peaks.
Officials stated that Mount Semeru on the island of Java erupted 10 times on Wednesday, spewing a large amount of volcanic ash, with lava and rocks reaching as far as approximately 13 kilometers (about 8.08 miles) away on the slopes. The alert level remains at its highest.
Septi Wardhani, an official from Semeru National Park, mentioned that the stranded hikers were camping overnight at a lakeside campground about 6.4 kilometers away from the volcano’s crater at the foothill of the volcano. They have now been assisted to get to safety.
She told Reuters, “All climbers and guides are safe. The situation is under control.”
Footage from Indonesia’s volcano monitoring agency showed a massive plume of hot volcanic ash surging from the crater and covering the entire slope.
The last major eruption of Mount Semeru was in December 2021, resulting in at least 51 fatalities and covering nearby villages with volcanic ash.
Mount Semeru, standing at 3,676 meters above sea level, is one of about 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia. Indonesia is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region prone to frequent earthquakes and highly active geological and volcanic movements due to the convergence of tectonic plates.
Prahista Dian, an official from the East Java rescue agency, mentioned that dozens of rescue personnel have been dispatched to assist in the evacuations, with 956 residents living near the volcano being relocated to schools, mosques, and government buildings.
“We have also deployed teams to search for any residents who may still be trapped,” he added.
(This article was based on relevant reports from Reuters)