Jakarta: Indonesia’s Semeru volcano erupted on Wednesday, prompting authorities to raise the alert status of Java Island’s tallest peak to its highest level. The eruption sent thick ash clouds soaring up to 5.6 km into the sky, according to the country’s volcanology agency.
Officials warned residents to maintain a minimum distance of 2.5 km from the volcano due to the increased threat of falling ash, pyroclastic flows, and other hazardous activity.
Standing over 12,000 feet, Semeru is among Indonesia’s nearly 130 active volcanoes. The country sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a volatile seismic zone where shifting tectonic plates trigger frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as emergency teams assess potential risks to nearby communities.
