Mount Semeru erupts, LPBI NU of Lumajang evacuates affected residents

Jakarta, NU Online

The Nahdlatul Ulama Disaster Management and Climate Change Agency (LPBI NU) of Lumajang Regency, East Java carried out the process of evacuating residents affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru from Supiturang Village, Pronojiwo District, Lumajang Regency, Saturday (4/12/2021).

 

"Today, Saturday, December 4, 2021, there has been an avalanche of Semeru clouds along with a flood of lava accompanied by ash rain. Today is moderate intensity. The NU Peduli Semeru team, a grup of LPBI, and the Nahdlatul Ulama Branch Representative Council (MWCNU) are still evacuating (the residents)," said Chairman of the LPBI NU of Lumajang Regency, Abdul Majid Ridwan in a statement received by NU Online, Saturday (4/12/2021).

 

Ridwan said that at this time there were no fatalities. However, the eruption and bursts of hot clouds from Mount Semeru have made the Perak Bridge as a connecting bridge between Lumajang Regency and Malang Regency collapsed and made traffic flow completely paralyzed. The bridge is an important national road and evacuation route.

 

"Hopefully there will be no casualties, but the Perak bridge access has been completely cut off for the time being," said Ridwan.

 

Meanwhile, the Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, confirmed that she had moved to the location to ensure the measures in handling disaster.

 

"Currently the Provincial Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has moved. BPBD of Lumajang has docked. The Lumajang Regent has also moved to the location," said Khofifah.

 

"God willing, I will go to the location tonight. Please keep striving and pray for the best," she added.

 

Mount Semeru is reported to have shed hot clouds towards Besuk Kobokan, Sapitarang Village, Pronojiwo District, Lumajang Regency, East Java, on Saturday 4 December 2021 at 15:20 WIB.

 

Based on records from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), it was observed that there were two incandescent lava avalanches with a sliding distance of approximately 500 to 800 meters, and the center of the avalanche was approximately 500 meters below the crater.

 

The mountain with an altitude of 3,676 meters above sea level emits thick gray smoke with a large size. The highest volcano in East Java also emits volcanic ash around Sumberwuluh Village, Candipuro District, Lumajang, East Java.

 

Contributor: Nuriel Shiami Indiraphasa

Editor: Sudarto Murtaufiq