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Indonesia’s Semeru volcano erupts, releasing gas clouds and rivers of lava on main island

  • Thick columns of ash were blasted into the sky while searing gas and lava flowed down Semeru’s slopes towards a nearby river
  • The eruption forced the evacuation of nearly 2,000 people, authorities said, as they issued their highest warning for the area in the east of Java island

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A man looks on as Mount Semeru releases volcanic materials during an eruption on Sunday. Photo: AP

A volcano erupted in Indonesia on Sunday spewing a cloud of ash 15km into the sky and forcing the evacuation of nearly 2,000 people, authorities said, as they issued their highest warning for the area in the east of Java island.

There were no immediate reports of any casualties from the eruption of the Semeru volcano and Indonesia’s transport ministry said that there was no impact on air travel but notices had been sent to two regional airports for vigilance.

“Most roads have been closed since this morning and now it is raining volcanic ash and it has covered the view of the mountain,” community volunteer Bayu Deny Alfianto told Reuters by telephone from near the volcano.

Mount Semeru volcano spews volcanic ash during an eruption as seen from Candipuro in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia on Sunday. Photo: Antara Foto / Iwan / via Reuters
Mount Semeru volcano spews volcanic ash during an eruption as seen from Candipuro in Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia on Sunday. Photo: Antara Foto / Iwan / via Reuters

Semeru, the tallest mountain on Java, erupted last year killing more than 50 people and displacing thousands.

Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency (BNPB) said 1,979 people had been moved to 11 shelters and authorities had distributed masks to residents. Rescue, search and evacuation efforts were ongoing.

The volcano’s plume of ash reached a height of 50,000 ft (15km), said Japan’s Meteorology Agency, which had initially been on alert for the possibility that the volcano could trigger a tsunami. It later ruled that out.

The eruption, some 640km (400 miles) east of the capital, Jakarta, follows a series of earthquakes in the west of Java, including one last month that killed more than 300 people.

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