Locals look at Mount Semeru Volcano spewing hot ash during an eruption as seen from Candipuro district in Lumajang, East Java province, Indonesia, December 18, 2021, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. HAMKA AGUNG JAKARTA Indonesia's Semeru volcano erupted early on Sunday, spewing a two km 1.24 miles high ash column, prompting authorities to warn people not to be in the eruption range.
Earlier this month, the eruption of Semeru, Java's tallest mountain, ejected ash clouds and pyroclastic flows that killed 46 people and left several missing, while thousands were displaced.
The early morning eruption resulted in dense white and grey ash clouds, according to Indonesia's Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation PVMBG. Residents were warned not to conduct any activities within a five km radius of the eruption centre and keep a 500 meter distance from riversides due to the risks of lava flow.
PVMBG told people not to conduct any activities within 13 km southeast of the eruption center.
With 142 volcanoes, Indonesia has the largest population in the world, living in close proximity to a volcano, including 8.6 million within 10 km.