Indonesia volcano: Dozens injured as residents flee huge ash cloud from Mt Semeru

Science & Environment Science & Environment: In The News
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One person has died and 41 suffered burns after a volcano erupted on Indonesia’s Java island, officials said on Saturday.

Residents were filmed fleeing a giant ash cloud from Mt Semeru. Witnesses described nearby villages covered in debris, and thick smoke blotting out the sun, leaving them in pitch darkness.

The eruption took place at about 14:30 local time (07:30 GMT). Local authorities have set up a restricted zone within 5km (3 miles) from the crater.

The Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) in Darwin, Australia said the ash appeared to have detached from the summit and was drifting south-west over the Indian Ocean. The VAAC provides advice to the aviation industry about the location and movement of potentially hazardous volcanic ash.

Campbell Biggs, a meteorologist at the VAAC, told the BBC that the 15,000m plume was higher than the cruising altitude for most aircraft and would cause most flights in the vicinity to divert their flight paths to avoid it.

Mt Semeru rises 3,676m above sea level and previously erupted last December, forcing thousands of residents to seek shelter. It is among Indonesia’s nearly 130 active volcanoes.

Scary … :scream_cat:

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Oh that’s horrifying…its like War of the Worlds! :scream:

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And to think I moan about a few sub zero days we have over here …that must be frightening :astonished:

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Yes, it is. But have you considered the huge number of volcanos which are currently erupting? The Ring of Fire is somewhat overactive although we’re reassured it’s all “normal”. Question is - if it wasn’t normal - would we be told?

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Overall, 48 volcanoes were in continuing eruption status as of 15 October 2021. An eruption marked as “continuing” does not always mean persistent daily activity, but indicates at least intermittent eruptive events without a break of 3 months or more. Detailed statistics are not kept on daily activity, but generally there are around 20 volcanoes actively erupting on any particular day ; this is a subset of the normal 40-50 with continuing eruptions.

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Indonesia volcano: Rescuers race to find survivors of Indonesia eruption

At least 13 people have now died and dozens more are injured after a volcano erupted on Indonesia’s Java island on Saturday, emergency authorities said.

Pictures show entire villages buried in volcanic ash up to rooftops, and locals have described thick smoke blocking the Sun, leaving them in pitch darkness.

Officials said at least 57 people have been injured, with many suffering severe burns.

A spokesperson for Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency (BNPB) said that the injured were being treated at various hospitals and medical facilities.

The eruption has left at least 11 villages in the Lumajang district coated in volcanic ash, submerging houses and forcing some evacuees to seek shelter in mosques and makeshift shelters.

According to BNPB officials, 902 people have been evacuated from the area so far.

But evacuation efforts have been hampered by choking smoke, a power blackout, and rainstorms during the eruption which turned the debris into mud.

Meanwhile, 10 people who had earlier been trapped in buildings have been rescued, according to the BNPB.

Dreadful … :scream:

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At least 34 people were killed in a volcanic eruption in Indonesia on Sunday, the country’s national disaster agency says.

Mount Semeru engulfed villages in volcanic ash and hot mud on the island of Java, forcing thousands to flee.

Seventeen people are still missing.

Emergency teams and rescue dogs are looking for survivors and bodies in the debris. The operation has been complicated by dangerous conditions and bad weather in the area.

The volcano remains active, with smaller eruptions continuing since the weekend.

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