Mount Semeru Erupts: Indonesia Volcano Spews Ash 13km Into Sky Forcing Mass Evacuation

At least 300 villagers residing in proximity to the volcano have been evacuated to safety.

Indonesia's Mount Semeru volcano on Java island erupted dramatically on Wednesday, projecting ash and gas approximately 13 kilometers into the atmosphere, prompting officials to elevate the alert status to its maximum level.

Located in eastern Java, approximately 310 kilometers west of Bali's tourist destination, Mount Semeru's eruption occurred at 2:13 pm local time (0713 GMT), generating dangerous pyroclastic flows according to Muhammad Wafid, head of Indonesia's geological agency.

"The public is strongly advised to avoid all activities within an 8-kilometer (5-mile) radius of Mount Semeru's crater or peak due to significant risk from ejected volcanic materials," Wafid stated in an official announcement.

The national disaster agency confirmed that the ash column had risen as high as 13 kilometers (eight miles) into the atmosphere.

#Indonesia 🇮🇩 #volcano_eruption live : The webcam footage of a pyroclastic flow from Mount Semeru's eruption showing superheated ash and rocks surging down the slope at high speeds amid surrounding vegetation. pic.twitter.com/XJtCajzjrZ

Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the disaster agency, confirmed that a minimum of 300 villagers from the volcano's vicinity have been relocated to two temporary shelters. No immediate casualties have been reported.

The geological agency further warned that seismic activity at Mount Semeru continues to remain at elevated levels.

Authorities at Bali's Ngurah Rai airport stated that flight schedules were currently proceeding normally despite the eruption.

A previous eruption of Mount Semeru in 2021 resulted in over 50 fatalities and damaged more than 5,000 homes, forcing nearly 10,000 residents to seek shelter elsewhere.

Indonesia is situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where the convergence of continental plates triggers substantial volcanic and seismic activity throughout the region.

The Southeast Asian archipelago is home to nearly 130 active volcanoes, making it one of the most volcanically active regions in the world.