Semeru Volcano In Indonesia Erupts Seven Times On Monday Spewing Ash Up To One Kilometre

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Indonesia's Semeru Volcano erupts seven times on Monday (March 17) morning, throwing ash to 1,000 metres. -- Photo: Vietnam News/ANN
JAKARTA (Vietnam News-ANN/Tempo.co): Indonesia's Semeru volcano in East Java province erupted seven times on March 17 morning, throwing ash up to 1,000 metres, according to a Mount Semeru Observation Post operator.
The eruption of the 3,676-metre-high volcano happened between 2.38am and 9.27am (local time), with southwesterly winds.
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation has warned people to avoid activities within a 3-kilometre radius of the peak and 8-kilometres to the southeast.
People are also urged to avoid rivers that originate from Semeru, as they may be affected by growing pyroclastic flows and lahar floods..
Based on observations from the PGA Post located at Mount Sawit, Sumber Wuluh Village, Candipuro District, Lumajang Regency, there were six eruptions on Monday morning.
Meanwhile, based on observations in the last 24 hours until early Monday morning, several types of seismic activity were recorded. 
This includes 52 times of eruption earthquakes, 3 times of avalanche earthquakes, 19 times of gust earthquakes, 4 times of harmonic earthquakes, and 1 time of volcanic earthquake.
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), Geological Agency, stated that the activity level of Mount Semeru remains unchanged, still at level II or Caution. 
At this level, it is recommended not to carry out any activities in the southeastern sector along Besuk Kobokan, up to 8 kilometers from the summit (eruption center).
Outside of this distance, people should not carry out activities within 500 meters from the edge of the river (riverbanks) along Besuk Kobokan because of the potential for being hit by expanding hot clouds and lava flows up to 13 kilometers from the summit.
The Centrefor Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation also recommends refraining from activities within a 3-kilometere radius from the crater/summit of Mount Semeru due to the risk of being hit by flying rocks (pyroclastic).
The public is also advised to be wary of the potential for hot clouds and lava flows along the river valleys that originate from Mount Semeru, especially along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat, as well as the potential for lahars in small rivers that are tributaries of Besuk Kobokan. - Vietnam News/ANN-Tempo.co

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