Death toll from Indonesia’s Semeru eruption rises to 48

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The death toll from Indonesia’s Semeru hot avalanches rose to 48 as of Monday (Dec. 13), according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

Meanwhile, 2,004 people are still undergoing outpatient treatment at the community health centers and a number of health posts.

In search of potential locations for victims who are still missing, the search and rescue team deployed 11 sniffer dogs.

Dozens of heavy equipment were also deployed in handling the disaster of Semeru which erupted on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 4) local time.

BNPB also stated that 9,997 people have been evacuated to a number of emergency response posts for the Semeru volcano’s eruption, which are located at 148 points.

BNPB also urged people and tourists not to move to areas within a one kilometer radius of Mount Semeru’s crater and peak, and five kilometers to the crater opening in the southeast-south sector.

People should also remain aware of hot avalanches, lava avalanches, and lahars along rivers and valleys coming from the volcano’s summit.

The 3,676-meter-high Semeru is the highest mountain on Java island. The active volcano is located between the districts of Lumajang and Malang in East Java province.

Reporting by Indonesia Window