|On December 8 at 00:01 local time Mount Semeru erupted with the height of the ash column observed reaching 500 m above the summit. <ref name="Liputan6">{{cite news |title=Semeru Kembali Erupsi Rabu 8 Desember, Kolom Abu Tebal Mengarah ke Utara |url=https://www.liputan6.com/news/read/4731185/semeru-kembali-erupsi-rabu-8-desember-kolom-abu-tebal-mengarah-ke-utara
|On December 8 at 00:01 local time Mount Semeru erupted with the height of the ash column observed reaching 500 m above the summit. <ref name="Liputan6">{{cite news |title=Semeru Kembali Erupsi Rabu 8 Desember, Kolom Abu Tebal Mengarah ke Utara |url=https://www.liputan6.com/news/read/4731185/semeru-kembali-erupsi-rabu-8-desember-kolom-abu-tebal-mengarah-ke-utara
|access-date=8 December 2021 |agency=[[Liputan 6]] |date=8 December 2021 |location=Jakarta, Indonesia |language=in Indonesian |archive-date=8 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207105048/https://www.liputan6.com/news/read/4731185/semeru-kembali-erupsi-rabu-8-desember-kolom-abu-tebal-mengarah-ke-utara
|access-date=8 December 2021 |agency=[[Liputan 6]] |date=8 December 2021 |location=Jakarta, Indonesia |language= Indonesian |archive-date=8 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207105048/https://www.liputan6.com/news/read/4731185/semeru-kembali-erupsi-rabu-8-desember-kolom-abu-tebal-mengarah-ke-utara
An eruption of Mount Semeru, a volcano in the East Java province of the Indonesian island of Java, began on 4 December 2021. The eruption began after heavy precipitation caused the collapse of the lava dome at the summit. Pyroclastic flows and lahars damaged at least 2,970 homes and several public buildings. At least 34 people have died,[2] 169 more are injured, while 22 are unaccounted for.[1][3][4][5]
Background
Semeru is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia.[6] At 3,676 meters in elevation, it is the highest volcano on the island. The volcano is part of a chain of volcanic mountains stretching from northern Sumatra to the Lesser Sunda Islands. Volcanism in Indonesia is mainly associated with the offshore subduction of the Australian Plate beneath the Sunda Plate. The oldest record of an eruption was from 1818. Since then, major eruptions have occurred in 1941, 1942, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955–1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1977, and 1978–1989.[7] A minor eruption occurred in January 2021 with no casualties reported.[8] The 4 December eruption was the latest in a series of explosive eruptions on the volcano since 2014. Recent eruptions on the volcano have been accompanied by pyroclastic flows, eruption columns, and debris avalanches.[9]
Past events
Semeru's deadliest eruption occurred on 29 August 1909 when pyroclastic flows and lava destroyed 38 settlements and 600-800 hectares of farmland.
That eruption claimed 208 lives. Since then, most of the volcano's eruptive activity have been confined to minor strombolian eruptions. An eruption in 1994 caused the deaths of three people.[10]
In May 1981, heavy rains caused the crater lake at the summit of the volcano to overflow, triggering a flash flood. Approximately 26 villages in six sub-districts were severely impacted by the floods. The official death toll from the 1981 floods totaled 251 according to government statistics. A further 120 people were lost and 152 were injured.[11]
Eruption
Villagers evacuating to a safe distance from the mountain following the 6th December eruptions.
The eruption is thought to have begun when a lava dome at the summit crater collapsed due to intense precipitation. A volcanologist at the Bandung Institute of Technology said the eruption debris flow was an accumulation of material from past eruptions. Heavy rainfall eroded volcanic material on the summit, destabilizing the lava dome.[12] The collapsed dome triggered a series of pyroclastic flows that traveled down the slopes of the volcano.[13] According to a report from the geological department of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the plume height may have been as great as 45 km, although there are claims the height was only 11 km. Investigations are ongoing to determine the plume height.[14]
Timeline
Date
Description
December 4
The eruption began at 14:50 local time, ejecting a cloud of volcanic ash 40,000 feet (12,000 m) into the air.[15] The collapse of the unstable lava dome due to heavy rainfall has been blamed as the cause. Three smaller eruptions followed within a 24-hour period after the main collapse of the lava dome.[14]
A smaller eruption occurred on the morning of December 6, at 07:18 local time. The eruption triggered pyroclastic flows and lava flows that travelled 2.5 km down the summit.[16] Rescuers were forced to suspend their missions due to the continued episodes of eruptions.[17]
December 7
On December 7, at 01:14 local time, an eruption column was observed climbing at least 1,000 meters above the summit. The second and third eruption occurred at 02:44 and 05:54 respectively, reaching a similar height of 1,000 meters.[18]
December 8
On December 8 at 00:01 local time Mount Semeru erupted with the height of the ash column observed reaching 500 m above the summit. [19]
Early warnings
According to the Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), warnings for a potential eruption was sent to a WhatsApp group chat four days prior to the eruption on December 1. Warnings were also issued to people on December 2 advising not to approach the volcanic crater.[20] Village residents however, said they did not receive any early warning for a large eruption. They added that the PVMBG did not issue any alerts or inform the residents for such an eruption.[21] The PVMBG received heavy criticism by residents and on social media for their poor management and failure to inform residents of the eruption. The evacuation system in place at the villages also did not function; pyroclastic flows and ash also approached and covered an evacuation center.[22]
Casualties
December 4
Initial reports confirmed three people, a store owner and two miners, were missing when the Gladak Perak BridgeinLumajang collapsed due to a lahar.[23] Later in the evening of 4 December, that number was revised to nine.[24] According to the Indonesian Ministry of Health, one person was killed and 45 people were injured. More than 40 people were seriously wounded by pyroclastic flows,[25] with four burn victims taken to the intensive care unit for their severe injuries.[26] A total of 38 people were treated at the Penanggal Health Center.[27] Another 10 miners at a sand mine in Renteng Village were trapped and an initial attempt to rescue the miners was unsuccessful.[28] A subsequent report indicated differently. According to the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB), ten miners thought to be missing at a sand mine in Lumajang were rescued. However, some number of sand miners are still unaccounted for.[29]
December 5
Burn victims being treated at the Pasirian Hospital in Lumajang.
A second death was confirmed on the morning of 5 December at the Dr. Haryoto Hospital due to severe burns.[30] The total death toll was later revised to 14; 11 in Pronojiwo subdistrict and three in Candipuro subdistrict.[31] Most of the fatalities succumbed to burns.[32] Two of the fatalities were from the Supiturang and Sumberwuluh villages respectively. Five other victims were from the Curah Kobokan village.[32] Five bodies are undergoing the identification process at the Bhayangkara Hospital.[33] The number of burn victims was also updated to 89 from the early morning figure of 57.[29][34]
December 6
On December 6, the BNPB released an update stating that 15 people have died from the eruption while the number of missing individuals have risen to 27.[5] Local news sources in the evening reported at least 22 fatalities, adding that only five bodies have not been identified.[2][35] The BNPB later confirmed the death toll. Fourteen of the victims were from Pronojiwo sub-district while eight others from Candipuro sub-district. According to an official from the BNPB, eight bodies from Pronojiwo have been buried.[35]
December 7
On December 7, officials raised the death toll in Lumajang to 34.[36] Of the 34 bodies recovered, ten have not been identified. The number of unaccounted residents fell from 27 to 22 while injured figure was updated to 169.[1] On top of the human casualties, livestock consisting of at least 138 goats and 23 cows were lost.[37]
December 8
The ten previously unidentified bodies were successfully identified through autopsies and forensic dentistry. The ten victims consisted of 6 males and 4 females between the ages of 15 and 70. Five bodies were returned to families of the victims through visual identification.[38]
Impact
A village covered by volcanic ash.
In the Malang Regency, six sub districts were affected by ashfall. Eight villages and two sub districts in the Lumajang Regency were also affected.[39] The destruction of the Gladak Perak Bridge sealed road vehicle access to villages in the area.[40] Power interruptions and blackouts were triggered, affecting at least 30,253 people.[41] In the Pronojiwo District of East Java, at least 30 homes were destroyed by lahars.[42] Many village homes and vehicles in East Java were covered by heavy volcanic ash. An estimated 300 families were evacuated.[43]
On 5 December, volcanic ash fell in the Pronojiwo District of Lumajang, forcing many evacuees, residents and aid officials to flee. It was reported that a smaller eruption had occurred. The small eruption caused panic at nearby villages.[44] A total of 2,970 homes and 13 public infrastructure including bridges and places of worship were damaged.[45] Some 28 schools in two districts; six in Candipuro and 22 in Pronojiwo were heavily damaged by ashfall.[46] At least 11 villages in Lumajang were submerged in ash reaching up the roofs of homes.[47] Many vehicles were also submerged. Kampung Renteng, a village in the Candipuro District, heavily affected by ash. At another village, ash had destroyed every home.[48]
At least 5,205 people were affected (as of December 5), with 2,004 residents in Lumajang displaced.[18] The displaced residents and took refuge in multiple locations.[49] In the Pronojiwo District, some 305 people resided in schools and village halls. 409 people were displaced in the Candipuro District, and 188 in Pasirian.[49][50] Some of the evacuees later moved to other homes or buildings.[51] Operations at the Yogyakarta International Airport, Adisumarmo International Airport and Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport were unaffected by the eruption as no volcanic ash was observed.[52] Tourism at the nearby Mount Bromo was not affected by the eruption as well. Despite Semeru located within the national park compound, visitors continued to enter the park. Access to Semeru was restricted since July 2021.[53]
According to the Amil Zakat National Agency, the eruption caused 310 billion Rupiah worth of damage to homes, public infrastructures, local businesses, and basic services.[54] By Tuesday afternoon, December 7, the number of displaced individuals rose to 3,697. Most of the displaced residents were from Lumajang Regency, while 24 originated from Malang.[4] The number of displaced people rose to 4,250 by nightfall.[1]
Officials at the emergency response post updated the number of homes damaged to 5,205. The eruption affected a total of 17 settlements in 10 sub-districts.[55] In the Kampung Renteng village, all but one home was damaged.[56]
Local authorities have urged residents to keep a distance of at least 5 km away from the main summit crater as there are concerns of large pyroclastic flows. Individuals are prohibited from approaching 1 km or closer to the crater.[57] The head of the BNPB had warned of increased volcanic activity and the presence of pyroclastic flows in the volcano. The head also said ashfall were occurring in some villages hence residents have been urged to evacuate. Residents were also told to keep clear from rivers originating from Semeru as they are transporting volcanic debris.[58] The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) issued a weather forcast on December 6, for the coming two days, warning residents to beware of heavy rain that could trigger more lahars. The agency added that East Java has entered the rainy season where the threat of lahars are higher.[59]
The BNPB provided meals ready-to-eat packs, blankets, mattresses, masks and refugee tents in an effort to assist the displaced residents. Medical supplies, water and instant food were also supplied. It is estimated that 1,14 billion Indonesian rupiah was utilised in providing aid.[60] The BNPB would also provide 500,000 rupiahs over a period of six months to displaced residents to pay for temporary housing. The six months period would see the construction of new homes for the affected residents.[61]
Indonesian President Joko Widodo would visit the Lumajang Regency to lead the BNPB in the post-eruption recovery efforts on 5 December.[62] Meanwhile, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, the Governor of East Java, relocated her office to the Lumajang Regency to aid in the evacuation process of residents in the danger zone.[58] In an attempt to prevent further casualties, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources suspended all mining-related operations in the immediate danger zone.[63] The BNPB said that the response to the disaster would continue until January 3, 2022.[64]
The Ministry of Agriculture will provide farmers seeds and beans for an ares of 847 hectares. Also provided are 174 cows and goats, animal feed, grass, and medication. Tractors and hand sprayers would also be given as compensation.[65]
Rescue and recovery
A rescue operation to locate several miners unaccounted for on the afternoon of the eruption is said to begin once activity on the volcano has decreased. The Deputy Regent of Lumajang said that rescue and recovery efforts could not be carried out the night before due to difficult access to the affected areas.[66]
Recovery efforts to find victims were hampered after rescuers encountered soil that were still too hot to enter.[67] The effort to recover missing victims is said to take approximately a week, according to search and rescue members. Superheated soil and wet conditions slowed progress of recovery.[68]
Reconstructions
The Indonesian President Joko Widodo is planning to relocate over 2,000 properties in Lumajang. He added that the relocation would take place after recovery efforts were complete in order to prioritize searching for missing people and treating the injured. The Indonesian government on December 7 is looking into new locations to resettle displaced residents.[69]
^Karta Raharja Ucu (4 December 2021). "Sejarah Panjang Meletusnya Gunung Semeru Sejak 1818" [The Long History of the Eruption of Mount Semeru Since 1818] (in Indonesian). Republika Online. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
^Nur Fitriatus Shalihah (5 December 2021). Rizal Setyo Nugroho (ed.). "Lokasi Gunung Semeru yang Meletus 4 Desember 2021" [Location of Mount Semeru which erupted on 4 December 2021] (in Indonesian). Kompas.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
^Abdul Aziz Mahrizal Ramadan (5 December 2021). "Ini Daftar Nama 38 Korban Luka Bakar Akibat Erupsi Gunung Semeru" [This is a list of names of 38 burn victims due to the eruption of Mount Semeru] (in Indonesian). SuaraMalang.id. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
^Abdul Aziz Mahrizal Ramadan (5 December 2021). "Erupsi Gunung Semeru, Wisata Bromo Tetap Buka Normal" [Mount Semeru Eruption, Bromo Tour Remains Normal] (in Indonesian). SuaraMalang.id. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
^Ellyvon Pranita (4 December 2021). Holy Kartika Nurwigati Sumartiningtyas (ed.). "Gunung Semeru Erupsi Hari Ini, Masyarakat Diminta Jauhi Radius 5 KM Arah Bukaan Kawah" [Mount Semeru erupts today, people are asked to stay away from a radius of 5 KM in the direction of the crater opening] (in Indonesian). Kompas.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
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Media related to Mount Semeru 2021 eruption at Wikimedia Commons
