Semeru volcano: Evacuations, search and rescue, flight warnings as massive ash cloud envelops Java

Mass evacuations are underway in Indonesia after a volcano which killed more than 50 people in 2021 erupted 10 times, causing a monstrous ash cloud.

Authorities enacted a search and rescue plan to evacuate more than 900 people in the surrounding area below the Semeru volcano on the island of Java after the explosions on Wednesday (local time).

The volcano began breaching and reportedly sent plumes of ash as high as two kilometres above its peak, according to Indonesia’s volcanology bureau.

Alerts have been raised to the highest levels as the explosions continue, sending lava and rocks as far as 13km down its slopes, officials said.

Emergency services evacuated the local residents and had to extricate at least 170 climbers who were visiting the mountainside.

“The climbers were stuck overnight at a lakeside camping area at the foot of the volcano, about 6.4km from the crater, but were now being helped to safety,” said Septi Wardhani, an official at Semeru National Park.

“All climbers with their guides are safe and the situation is under control,” Wardhani told Reuters.

Australian airlines have advised their customers to be vigilant about checking timetables and schedules in and out of Indonesia for any changes.

“Jetstar flights to and from Bali (Denpasar) are currently operating as scheduled. We encourage customers to check their flight status at jetstar.com for the latest updates,” the Jetstar website is advising its customers.

“Our meteorology and operations teams continue to closely monitor the movement of volcanic ash from the recent eruption of Mount Semeru in Indonesia.

“Safety remains our highest priority, and we will contact customers directly if their flight is impacted.”

Qantas and Virgin told The Nightly that “there are no impacts to flight schedules as a result of the volcanic eruption in Indonesia” as of Thursday afternoon.

Mount Semeru, at over 3600m high, is one of Indonesia’s 129 active volcanoes and is located on the nation’s most densely populated island.

The eruption has covered several villages with falling ash, however no casualties have been reported.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre issued a red aviation alert following the series of eruptions as ash was “partially identifiable on satellite imagery”. Its last major eruption was in December 2021, when at least 51 people were killed.

The East Java Rescue Agency deployed dozens of personnel to assist the evacuation and moved 956 people into temporary accomodation at schools, mosques and government buildings according to government official Prahista Dian.

“We’ve also deployed personnel to search for whether there are still residents trapped or not.”

with AAP.