Indonesia’s Semeru volcano erupts, alert raised to highest level

Indonesia’s Semeru volcano on the island of Java has erupted, prompting the country’s volcanology agency to raise the alert level to the highest.

The volcano is emitting ash clouds reaching up to 5.6 kilometers into the sky, and authorities have urged residents to maintain a safe distance of at least 2.5 kilometers, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Standing over 3,600 meters, Semeru is the highest mountain on Java and one of nearly 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia. The country lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a highly seismically active region where tectonic plates converge, generating frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and advising local communities to follow safety protocols as ashfall and volcanic activity continue.

By Sabina Mammadli