Indonesia raises alert for Mount Semeru as 45 eruption quakes recorded

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 (KUNA) -- Indonesia raised the alert for Mount Semeru in East Java to level four early Friday after the volcano recorded 45 eruption earthquakes, authorities said.
An official at the mountain's monitoring station, Rudra Wibowo, told the Indonesian news agency Antara that the seismic observations recorded 45 eruption earthquakes with amplitudes of 10-22 mm and durations of 58-184 seconds.
Wibowo said that the post also recorded six avalanche earthquakes and eight gust earthquakes, each with amplitudes of 2-4 mm and lasting between roughly 34 and 74 seconds.
He added that Mount Semeru also recorded five distant tectonic earthquakes, along with several lasting 25 to 53 seconds.
He explained that visual observations of the mountain showed fog levels reaching level three, while the weather was cloudy to rainy with light southeasterly winds.
The official confirmed that the mountain was at alert level four, the highest warning level for volcanic eruptions.
The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) issued several recommendations, including prohibiting residents from carrying out any activities in the southeastern sector within 20 kilometers of the summit.
Semeru, Java's highest and one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, has long experienced frequent eruptions that at times trigger dangerous pyroclastic flows and landslides threatening nearby southeastern villages. (end) ayb.ao