JAKARTA: Indonesia’s Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted on Thursday morning, sending volcanic ash 1.6 kilometres into the sky, while Mount Semeru in East Java recorded multiple eruptions on the same day, signalling heightened volcanic activity across the archipelago.
Mount Marapi erupted at 8.43 am local time, sending a column of grey ash drifting towards the northeast, while authorities confirmed multiple eruptions at Mount Semeru earlier in the day.
“The ash column was grey with moderate intensity,” said Marapi Volcano Observation Post (PGA) officer Ilhamdi Saputra, according to Antara news agency.
Mount Marapi, which rises 2,891 metres above sea level and is located on the border of Agam and Tanah Datar regencies in West Sumatra, is currently at Alert Level II.
Meanwhile, Mount Semeru, the highest volcano on Java island at 3,676 metres, erupted at least five times between 5.11 am and 7.32 am local time.
Semeru Observation Post officer Liswanto said the strongest eruption at 6.21 am produced an ash column reaching 1,200 metres above the summit, with ash clouds drifting to the northeast.
Subsequent eruptions sent ash columns ranging between 500 and 1,100 metres in height, with plumes moving in various directions including northeast and north.
Mount Semeru remains at Alert Level III. – BERNAMA
