Jakarta, April 6 (NationPress) - Indonesia's Mount Semeru, located in the East Java province, experienced multiple eruptions on Monday morning, ejecting dense ash clouds that soared up to 1,100 meters above the volcano's peak, as reported by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation.

An official from the Semeru monitoring station indicated that the ash columns, which varied in color from white to grey, drifted southward with a moderate intensity, according to Xinhua news agency.

As of the latest update, the volcano has recorded a minimum of seven eruptions since midnight, commencing at 00:38 a.m. local time, with the latest explosion at 9:29 a.m. The most significant activity was noted at 6:51 a.m., when the ash plume reached its peak height of 1,100 meters.

Officials have urged the public to stay clear of a 5-km radius around the summit. In the southeastern area, the exclusion zone extends to 13 km along the Besuk Kobokan river, with additional warnings that lahars and pyroclastic flows could reach as far as 17 km from the summit.

Previously, in March, Mount Semeru erupted, projecting an ash column approximately 1,000 meters into the atmosphere, as stated by the country's volcanology agency.

This eruption also created a hot avalanche cloud that traveled about three kilometers southeast along the Besuk Kobokan river channel.

Monitoring officials reported that the thick grey ash was carried to the northeast and east, with the eruption lasting nearly five minutes, characterized by a maximum seismic amplitude of 12 mm.

In February, Mount Semeru had five eruptions on Wednesday, sending ash clouds up to 1,000 meters above its summit, as noted by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).

Liswanto, a representative at the Semeru Volcano Monitoring Post, detailed that the initial eruption took place at 00:28 a.m. local time on February 11, with the strongest eruption recorded at 05:36 a.m. that same day, where an ash column ascended 1,000 meters into the sky. The fifth eruption occurred later at 08:06 a.m. and was accompanied by significant seismic activity.

Mount Semeru currently remains at Level III alert, the second-highest tier in Indonesia's four-level volcanic warning system.

The PVMBG has strongly advised the public against activities within 13 kilometers of the summit and within a 5-kilometer radius of the crater due to potential dangers, including hot clouds and volcanic debris. Local residents are encouraged to stay alert and adhere to guidance from authorities.

Standing tall at 3,676 meters above sea level, Semeru is the tallest volcano on Java Island and is among the most active in Indonesia. The nation is situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and boasts nearly 130 active volcanoes.