This is an archive article published on December 4, 2021

Indonesia’s Semeru volcano erupts, spews huge ash cloud

Mount Semeru's sudden eruption in Lumajang district in East Java province left several villages around its slopes blanketed with falling ash.

Villagers rest at a temporary shelter after evacuating their homes following the eruption of Mount Semeru , in Sumberwuluh village, Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. (AP Photo)

By: AP

2 min readJakartaDec 4, 2021 09:08 PM IST First published on: Dec 4, 2021 at 07:08 PM IST

The highest volcano on Indonesia’s most densely populated island of Java spewed thick columns of ash high into the sky on Saturday, triggering panic among people living nearby. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Mount Semeru’s sudden eruption in Lumajang district in East Java province left several villages around its slopes blanketed with falling ash.

The eruption was accompanied by a thunderstorm and rain, which pushed lava and smoldering debris and formed thick mud that destroyed at least one bridge connecting two main villages of Pronojiwo and Candipuro, as well as hampering the evacuation, Lumajang district head Thoriqul Haq told TVOne.