Mount Semeru Eruption: Casualties Mounting Up, More Than a Dozen Died

Update, Mount Semeru eruption death toll raises to 22 and 27 residents are still missing. Search and evacuation process are still being carried out.

Update, based on National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) data on Monday, December 6, 2021 at 11:10 local time, at least 15 people have died and 27 others are still missing. Meanwhile, the number of displaced residents amounted to 1,707 people spread over 19 points. A total 5,205 residents are affected by Mount Semeru eruption.

Based on the BNPB website, on Sunday (5/12/2021), at 17:30 Western Indonesia Time, the number of victims who died due to the eruption of Mount Semerus is 14 people. Additionally, 56 people are injured. 

Nusantara Pol - Emergency rescue operations are being carried out after Mount Semeru, an active volcano in the Indonesian province of East Java, erupted on Saturday (4/12/2021) afternoon. 

Sunday morning, the regional disaster management agency (BPBD) of Lumajang Regency and the joint team are continuing the search and evacuation process for trapped and missing residents.

According to the latest information on Sunday (5/12/2021) morning, the Head of  the National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB), Lieutenant General TNI Suharyanto stated that a total of 13 people are reported to have died as a result of the Mount Semeru eruption.

Residents of Lumajang Regency, East Java Province evacuated due to hot cloud avalanches from Mount Semeru eruption, Saturday (4/12/2021). (Photo: BNPB)

Two bodies have been identified and belong to the residents of Curah Kobokan and Kubuan, Pronojiwo District, Lumajang Regency, East Java Province.

In addition, 41 people with injuries, especially burns, have received initial treatment at the Penanggal Health Center. Then they were then referred to Haryoto Hospital and Bhayangkara Hospital. 

Separately, other injured residents are being treated at health facilities. As many as 40 people are treated at the Pasirian Health Center, 7 people at the Candipuro Health Center, and 10 other people at the Penanggal Health Center, two of whom are pregnant women.

The joint team has also successfully evacuated trapped residents who were mentioned previously by the Lumajang Deputy Regent. These people were the mine owner's office due to volcanic materials rain. The residents have been placed in the Curah Kobokan Post for further treatment.

The pyroclastic flow and volcanic ashes have affected multiple villages and districts around Mount Semeru's vicinity. 

The Lumajang Regency BPBD also reported that there are at least 902 displaced residents spread across several various districts.

The spread of hot volcanic clouds from Mount Semeru also caused multiple houses to be buried with volcanic material. A major bridge, namely Gladak Perak, in Curah Kobokan has been cut off. The bridge linked Lumajang and Malang.

The Lumajang Regency BPBD uses a heavy wheel loader to reopen Curah Kobokan road access and carry out further data collection related to other material losses due to this disaster.

According to the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), Mount Semeru is on level II or 'alert' status. The air quality in the vicinity of eruption is low due to volcanic ash contamination. Elderly, pregnant women, disabled, and children are a group of people that may be significantly affected.

Visual monitoring also shows that hot pyroclastic avalanches have stopped due to rainy conditions around the peak of Mount Semeru's lava dome. 

The relevant agencies are closely monitoring the volcanic acclivities of Mount Semeru. The disaster management agency has warned the public not to perform any activities near rivers where the hot pyroclastic cloud could flow. Cold lava also presents a significant risk because of the rainy condition.