Indonesia’s Mount Semeru Volcano Erupts

A volcano on Indonesia’s island of Java has erupted, spewing a huge column of ash into the air and prompting evacuations of villages in the area.

Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency (BNPB) warned residents on Sunday living near Mount Semeru in East Java province not to conduct any activities within 8km (4.9 miles) of the volcano and to keep away from riversides in the area due to risks of lava flow.

The agency added that it has raised the volcano’s alert status to the highest level.

Joko Sambang, who heads the BNPB’s office in Lumajang, East Java province also said several hundred people have begun moving to temporary shelters or evacuating for safe areas.

A sudden eruption of Mount Semeru last year killed at least 51 people, injured more than 100, and thousands of houses and buildings were damaged.

With 142 volcanoes, Indonesia has the largest population globally living in close proximity to a volcano, including 8.6 million within 10km.