Semeru Volcano Erupts Again Nearly 1,000 Evacuated and 170 Climbers Rescued In Indonesia

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

JAKARTA (Worthy News) – Indonesian authorities say more than 900 residents were evacuated and 170 stranded climbers have now been brought to safety after Mount Semeru — one of the country’s tallest and most active volcanoes — erupted repeatedly on Wednesday.

Officials kept Semeru’s alert level at its highest setting after the volcano on Java island erupted 10 times, spewing massive ash plumes and sending lava and rocks up to 13 kilometers (8 miles) down its slopes.

Indonesia’s disaster agency said 956 villagers were moved to shelters in schools, mosques, and government buildings as rescue teams deployed dozens of personnel to the area.

The 170 climbers and guides had been stuck overnight at a lakeside camping site roughly 6.4 kilometers (4 miles) from the crater.

“All climbers with their guides are safe. The situation is under control,” said Septi Wardhani of Semeru National Park.

PYROCLASTIC CLOUDS AND ASH

Footage from Indonesia’s volcanology agency showed enormous clouds of hot ash surging from the crater and blanketing the slopes of the 3,676-meter (12,060-foot) mountain, prompting fears of further flows.

Mount Semeru’s last major eruption in December 2021 killed at least 51 people and buried nearby villages under thick ash.

Indonesia — the world’s largest Muslim nation — sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active belt where tectonic plates collide, triggering frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

Rescuers say efforts will continue as authorities monitor for additional eruptions and warn residents to stay outside the expanded danger zone surrounding the volcano.

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