Indonesia's Semeru Volcano erupts 7 times, throwing ash to 1,000 meters

JAKARTA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Semeru Volcano in East Java erupted seven times on Monday morning, throwing ash up to 1,000 meters, according to a Mount Semeru Observation Post operator.

"The ash column was observed to be white to grey with thick intensity, moving towards the southeast and south," said Mukdas Sofian, Mount Semeru Observation Post officer.

The eruption of the 3,676-meter-high volcano happened between 2:38 a.m. and 9:27 a.m. local time, with southwesterly winds.

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation has warned people to avoid activities within a 3 km radius of the peak and 8 km to the southeast.

People are also urged to avoid rivers that originate from Semeru, as they may be affected by growing pyroclastic flows and lahar floods. ■