Jakarta (ANTARA) - The eruption of Mount Semeru in Lumajang, East Java, on November 19, caused severe injuries to three people and displaced more than 500 residents, local authorities reported.
The three injured victims are currently receiving treatment at the Dr. Haryoto Lumajang Regional General Hospital (RSUD), Head of Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center of the The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Abdul Muhari stated on Monday.
"In addition to the 204.63 hectares of damaged agricultural land, 21 houses were also severely damaged, along with one educational facility, one health facility, and one electricity substation," he added.
He noted that three villages were reported to be most affected by the volcanic material ejected from Mount Semeru: Supiturang and Oro-Oro Ombo in Pronojiwo Sub-district, and Penanggal in Candipuro Sub-district.
Based on data from Sunday, Muhari reported that 528 residents from those villages were staying in government-prepared evacuation posts.
They are distributed across two main locations: Pronojiwo 02 Public Middle School (307 people) and Supiturang 04 Public Elementary School (221 people).
The agency stated that multiple aid packages have been delivered to meet the needs of the evacuees.
This aid included 300 mattresses, 300 tarpaulins, 300 blankets, 200 boxes of medical masks, 200 plastic trash bags, and 150 hygiene kits.
Food aid provided consists of 1,000 ready-to-eat meals and 200 basic food packages.
The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) previously reported that Mount Semeru erupted on Wednesday, November 19, at 4:00 PM local time (16:00), with the eruption column reaching approximately 2,000 meters above the summit.
During the eruption, Mount Semeru produced a pyroclastic flow—a fast-moving current of hot gas and ash—that traveled up to 7 kilometers from the summit.
This was accompanied by a thick, gray ash column observed drifting toward the north and northwest.
The event, recorded on a seismogram at the Lumajang volcano monitoring post, showed a maximum amplitude of 40 mm and lasted for approximately 16 minutes and 40 seconds.
To date, the local government and the Geological Agency have maintained Mount Semeru's status at Level IV (Alert), the highest warning level, in anticipation of potential further activity.
This status also served as the basis for the Lumajang District Government's declaration of a Natural Disaster Emergency Response Status, which remains in effect until November 26.
