Indonesia: Indonesia’s Semeru volcano on Java island has erupted, spewing a column of ash 1.5 km into the air, forcing authorities to warn residents to stay away from the eruption area.

The Disaster Mitigation Agency of Indonesia (BNPB) warned residents not to conduct any activities within 5 km (3 miles) of the eruption centre and to stay 500 metres away from riversides due to the threats of lava flow.

There were no immediate reports of any casualties from the eruption of the Semeru volcano. Indonesia’s transport ministry stated that there was no impact on air travel but notices were given to two regional airports for caution.

According to BNPB, 1,979 people had been moved to 11 shelters and authorities had distributed masks to residents to avoid dangers.

The volcano’s plume of ash reached a height of 50,000 feet (15 km), according to Japan’s Meteorology Agency, which had already made an alert on the possibility that the volcano could trigger a tsunami.

Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) raised the level of volcanic activity to its highest level and residents were advised not to approach within 8 km (5 miles) of Semeru’s eruption centre.

PVMBG chief Mr. Hendra Gunawan informed that a bigger volume of magma could have built up compared with previous eruptions of the volcano, in 2021 and 2020, which could lead to greater danger for a bigger area.

The eruption, some 640 km (400 miles) east of the capital, Jakarta, follows a series of earthquakes in the west of Java, including the recent one which killed more than 300 people.

With 142 volcanoes, Indonesia has the largest population globally living near to a volcano, including 8.6 million within 10 km (6 miles).

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