Indonesian authorities have raised from Alert (level three) to Caution (level four) the emergency for the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano on Sunday, located on the island of Java, after it has returned to emit hot clouds for the third consecutive day with a range of 10 kilometers.
Some 1,979 local residents have been evacuated and moved to eleven specially prepared shelters, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, quoted by the Indonesian news agency Antara.
The areas affected by the eruption are Supiturang and Sumberurip in Pronojiwo district and the village of Sumbersari in Rowokangkung district.
In parallel, the local government has closed access to the nearby areas of Lumajang and Malang, which are guarded by security officers.
Other nearby villages have also begun evacuation throughout the day as the eruption made its way down the slope of Mount Semeru, officials said.
So far, 10,000 cloth masks, 10,000 surgical masks and 4,000 children’s masks have been distributed to prevent respiratory ailments from inhaling volcanic ash. In addition, the Indonesian Red Cross and the Lumajang Social Affairs Office have set up a soup kitchen.
