The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry will station an assistance team to compute the volume of volcanic eruption material at the peak of Mount Semeru, to anticipate the recurrence of cold lava flow.

“The team will arrive at Mount Semeru soon,” Head of PVMBG Andiani noted in a statement on Thursday.

Andiani remarked that the agency had also dispatched an emergency response team and a mapping team to survey the areas affected by the volcanic eruption.

The team also flew a drone to monitor the condition of Mount Semeru. In addition, a geologist team will be sent later to examine the volcanic rocks.

Andiani affirmed that PVMBG was constantly monitoring all volcanic activities at Mount Semeru.

Hence, currently, the agency continues to conduct various studies to provide an understanding of the characteristics of the volcano to the public.

According to Antara’s observation on Thursday, dozens of houses in Kamar Kajang Village, Candipuro Sub-district, Lumajang District, were flooded by the cold lava flow from Mount Semeru due to heavy rainfall on Wednesday night and the wee hours of Thursday.

Earlier, several other villages, such as Renteng and Curah Kobokan, were also flooded by the avalanche.

Andiani has urged the public to stay away from hot cloud flows areas owing to the likelihood of a secondary eruption and hot rock sediments.

She also called on the public to remain vigilant against cold lava flow as Indonesia is still in the midst of the rainy season until the start of next year.

“People are not allowed to conduct any activity within a radius of one kilometer (km) from the peak and five km in the southeast sector of the mountain, as well as along the river that originates from the peak,” she added.

Source: Antara News