Elderly people evacuated after Indonesian volcano erupts and spouts huge ash cloud

Editorial use only. HANDOUT Mandatory Credit: Photo by PVMBG/Sutantaaditya.com/Shutterstock (14618241a) An eruption of Mount Semeru occurred on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 06:07 WIB with an observed ash column height of ? 700 m above the peak (? 4376 m above sea level). The ash column was observed to be white to grey with moderate intensity towards the northeast. When this report was made, the eruption was still ongoing. Semeru Volcano Eruption, East Java, Indonesia - 03 Aug 2024
Mount Semeru, an Indonesian volcano, has erupted as civilians run to safety (Picture: PVMBG/Sutantaaditya.com/Shutters)

A volcano in Indonesia has erupted with an 54,000ft ash cloud spouting into the air, triggering a flight safety warning.

Mount Semeru, located on the border of the Lumajang District and Malang District in East Java erupted this morning at 6.11am local time.

The East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has evacuated residents affected who are elderly people from Pronojiwo District and Candipuro District, Lumajang.

In a translated written statement the East Java BPBD said: ‘The Rapid Response Team (TRC) of the Lumajang Regency BPBD carried out patrols and helped evacuate the elderly to safer places.

‘The pyroclastic flow is still ongoing, with a maximum amplitude of 40 mm. The pyroclastic flow reached a distance of 8.5 km from the mountain peak. The wind direction is towards the north.’

This is breaking news story and is being updated.

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