Indonesia’s Semeru volcano, located in East Java province, erupted on Friday, emitting hot ashes and prompting local authorities to issue warnings to steer clear of the area. The Semeru Volcano Monitoring Post reported that the eruption occurred at 9:23 a.m. local time, sending hot ashes up to 700 meters from the crater towards the southeast. Yadi Yuliandi, an officer at the monitoring post, stated that “the volcano’s eruption spewed a column of thick, grey ash towards southeast and south.”
Authorities have urged people to remain vigilant, especially in the southeastern sector within a 13 km radius and a 5 km radius around the summit to avoid potential further eruptions. Semeru volcano, standing at an elevation of 3,676 meters above sea level, is currently classified at the third-highest danger level, just below the highest level of IV. An eruption in December 2021 led to tens of thousands of evacuations and claimed over 50 lives.