Mount Semeru Erupts: Highest Alert Issued

The alert level for Mount Semeru, Indonesia's highest volcano, was raised to its maximum on Wednesday due to a series of powerful eruptions. Hot ash clouds, mixed with rock and gas, traveled up to 7 kilometers down the volcano's slopes, while ash columns reached 2 kilometers into the atmosphere.

Several villages were covered in falling ash as authorities escalated the alert status twice throughout the day. Despite the significant volcanic activity, no injuries or fatalities have been reported. Mount Semeru, located on Java, Indonesia's most populated island, has a history of frequent eruptions.

Indonesia, situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," is highly susceptible to seismic and volcanic events due to its location along numerous fault lines. Tens of thousands of people continue to reside on the fertile slopes of the archipelago's 129 active volcanoes.