Fresh eruption at Mount Semeru spews 700M ash column in Indonesia

By Anadolu staff

ISTANBUL (AA) - Mount Semeru on Thursday erupted twice, sending a column of volcanic ash up to 700 meters (2,296 feet) above the peak of the mountain in Indonesia's East Java province, according to state-run media.

Mount Semeru, located on the border of Lumajang and Malang districts in East Java, in its first eruption early morning spewed a column of volcanic ash up to 500 meters (1,640 feet) and lasted for 123 seconds, Antara news agency reported. While the second eruption lasted for 115 seconds with a maximum amplitude of 22 millimeters.

"The public is also prohibited from engaging in activities within a 5-kilometer (3 miles) radius of the crater/peak of Mount Semeru due to the risk of ejected rocks," said Mukdas Sofian, an officer at the Mount Semeru Observation Post.

Indonesia, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic activity and is home to more than 120 active volcanoes.