Semeru Erupts, Thousands of Residents Evacuate

Mount Semeru erupted by ejecting hot clouds for a few hours on Sunday. Based on data from the Vulcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center the hot ashes covered a distance of 13 kilometers.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Warga Residents see the condition of Besuk Kobokan filled with volcanic material that issued smoke after the eruption of Mount Semeru, Supituku Village, Pronojiwo District, Lumajang Regency, East Java, Sunday (4/12/2022).

LUMAJANG, KOMPAS — Thousands of residents around the slope of Mount Semeru, Lumajang regency, East Java, were evacuating to several locations following the eruption of the volcano on Sunday (4/12/2022). Mount Semeru’s activity was also raised to the status of caution (level IV).

Mount Semeru erupted by ejecting hot clouds for a few hours on Sunday, starting at 2:46 a.m. Based on data from the Vulcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG), the hot ashes covered a distance of 13 kilometers.

The Semeru eruption yesterday occurred one year after the eruption on 4 December 2021, which caused a number of fatalities and injuries, prompting many people to evacuate.

Lumajang deputy regent Indah Masdar said after Mount Semeru re- erupted yesterday, part of the local population chose to take shelter in several locations.

“Evacuees were dispersing to village halls, school buildings, worship houses or their relatives’ homes. They evacuated out of panic and for the most part, they will return home when the situation eases,” said Indah.

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According to Indah, at the initial stage, the Lumajang regency administration focused on relieving evacuees of their panic and making sure that there was no resident activity within a hazardous radius.

Up untiil Sunday afternoon, based on data from the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Lumajang, no fatal victims and injuries were reported.

Data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) recorded that until 4:19 p.m. on Sunday, there were 1,979 evacuees in a number of places. Among their locations were Supiturang State Primary School (SDN) 4 (266 people), Oro-oro Ombo Village Hall (217), Sumberurip SDN 2 (119), Sumberurip Village Hall (228), Penanggal Village Hall (131), Mount Sawur Station (52), Pasirian Village Hall (216), Candipuro Square (150) and Candipuro District Office (600).

Evacuees were dispersing to village halls, school buildings, worship houses or their relatives’ homes.

Acting head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, said several villages in Lumajang were impacted by the Semeru eruption such as Supiturang and Sumberurip in Pronojiwo district, Sumbersari in Rowokangkung district, Penanggal and Sumberwuluh in Candipuro district and Pasirian in Pasirian district.

According to Muhari, a joint team of the Lumajang BPBD, the National Search and Rescue Agency, the Indonesian Military, the National Police and interagency volunteers is conducting search, rescue and evacuation efforts.

Survivors evacuate

A number of survivors of the Semeru eruption of 2021 still living in huntara (temporary homes) are also evacuating after Semeru’s re-eruption.

Suliyanto, a resident living in a huntara in Sumberwuluh village, Candipuro district, Lumajang, said yesterday he and his family had evacuated. It was because of the volcanic-ash rain in their huntara area.

“The huntara was vacant due to being abandoned by its dwellers during evacuation. It was because the volcanic ashes were getting thicker. But on Sunday afternoon, as the situation was returning to normal, I went back to the huntara to monitor the situation,” added Suliyanto.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Elderly residents from Umbulan Hamlet displaced at the 4 Supiturang State Elementary School after the Eruption of Mount Semeru, Pronojiwo District, Lumajang Regency, East Java, Sunday (4/12/2022).

On Sunday (4/12) at 12:00 p.m., the PVMBG raised Semeru’s activity to the caution status (level IV). Previously, Semeru had been on the alert status (level III) since 16 December 2021.

The higher status was followed by several recommendations from the PVMBG. One of them was an appeal to local people not to be engaged in any activity in the southeastern sector along Besuk Kobokan as far as 17 kilometers from the peak or center of eruption.

Outside the range, people are requested not to do any activity within a distance of 500 meters from the riverbank along Besuk Kobokan because of the potential for the expansion of hot clouds and mud flow as far as 19 km.

“Residents are also banned from doing any activity within a radius of 8 km from the crater or peak of Mount Semeru because of exposure to the danger of getting hit by burning rocks,” said head of PVMBG Hendra Gunawan.

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Besides, people are also expected to guard against the potential for hot ashes as well as lava and mud flow along river streams or valleys with their upper reaches at the peak of Semeru, especially along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, Besuk Sat and Lanang River. The potential for mud flow in small rivers branching from Besuk Kobokan should also be watched out for.

Meanwhile, the East Java BPBD has sent personnel and logistic aid to speed up the handling of the Semeru eruption. Head of the East Java BPBD Emergency and Logistic Division, Sriyono, said his agency had sent a 15-member advance team to Lumajang.

“The advance team will make an assessment or data recording in various evacuation places. They are tasked with recording field data and submitting a report to the East Java BPBD to be followed up on,” said Sriyono.

The East Java BPBD has also sent logistic aid. In the initial phase, the aid is composed of 1 tonne of rice, 50 cartons of instant noodles, 200 liters of cooking oil, 200 kg of granulated sugar and 200 bottles of ready-to-serve sardines or fish. The East Java BPBD has also delivered face masks, 100 blankets, 50 sheets of tarpaulin and other logistic supplies. (NIK)

This article was translated by Aris Prawira.