 "Indonesia's Semeru volcano spewing ash clouds several kms into sky, govt issues highest-level alert")
Indonesia’s Semeru volcano has erupted, sending rapid pyroclastic flows down its slopes as the country’s volcanology agency raised the alert status of the highest mountain on Java island to its top level.
According to the agency, the eruption pushed ash plumes up to 5.6km (3.48 miles) into the atmosphere on Wednesday. Authorities also advised residents to remain at least 2.5km (1.55 miles) away from the crater due to ongoing dangers.
Mount Semeru in eastern Java, about 310 kilometres west of the tourist hotspot of Bali, erupted at 2:13 pm local time (0713 GMT), spewing what are known as pyroclastic flows, Indonesian geological agency head Muhammad Wafid said.
“The public is advised not to engage in activities within an 8 kilometre (5 mile) radius of the crater or peak of Mount Semeru due to the risk of being struck by ejected rocks,” he said in a statement.
The national disaster agency said the plume of ash had risen as far as 13 kilometres (eight miles) into the air.
Its spokesman Abdul Muhari said at least 300 villagers living near the volcano have been evacuated to two temporary shelters. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The geological agency also said that seismic activity at Mount Semeru remained high. Authorities at Ngurah Rai airport in Bali said flight schedules were operating as usual so far.
An eruption by Semeru in 2021 killed more than 50 people and damaged more than 5,000 homes, forcing almost 10,000 people to seek refuge.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where the meeting of continental plates causes substantial volcanic and seismic activity.
Quick Reads
View AllThe Southeast Asian archipelago has nearly 130 active volcanoes.
With inputs from agencies
 "From Saudi to Maldives through Trump: All about the US president's new luxury resort")
 "Op Sindoor battered Pakistan, rattled China: US body says Beijing launched fake news against Rafale")
 "11 years after Fukushima, Japan set to restart Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, world’s largest nuclear plant")
 "Arms sale to Taiwan deepens US-China friction as military drills intensify")
 "From Saudi to Maldives through Trump: All about the US president's new luxury resort")
 "Op Sindoor battered Pakistan, rattled China: US body says Beijing launched fake news against Rafale")
 "11 years after Fukushima, Japan set to restart Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, world’s largest nuclear plant")
 "Arms sale to Taiwan deepens US-China friction as military drills intensify")
