An explosive eruption from an Indonesian volcano has sent a massive ash cloud towering 54,000 feet into the sky, prompting Australia to issue a red flight safety alert.

Mount Semeru erupted on Wednesday, leading Indonesia’s volcanology agency to elevate the alert status to the highest level for Java Island’s tallest peak.

The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) in Australia raised alarms about the enormous ash plume, which was clearly visible in dramatic social media footage showing locals rushing to safety.

Mukdas Sofian, an officer at the Mount Semeru Observation Post, reported, “The ash column appeared gray with a dense intensity, moving to the north and northwest. The eruption is ongoing as of this report.”

Currently at Alert Level II, Mount Semeru has prompted officials to advise the public to steer clear of the southeastern sector, particularly the vicinity of Besuk Kobokan within 8 kilometers of the summit.

Sofian further warned, “Beyond that range, people should refrain from activities within 500 meters of Besuk Kobokan’s riverbanks due to the potential threat from expanding hot clouds and lava flows, which could extend up to 13 kilometers from the peak.”

He also urged residents to avoid being within a 3km radius of the crater to avoid any incandescent rock ejections.

‘The public is also asked to be aware of the potential for hot clouds, lava flows, and lahars along rivers/valleys that originate at the peak of Mount Semeru Volcano, especially along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat, as well as the potential for lahars in small rivers that are tributaries of Besuk Kobokan,’ Sofian said.   

An Indonesian volcano has erupted and spewed an enormous 54,000ft ash cloud, causing Australia to trigger a flight safety warning 

Mount Semeru, located on the border of Lumajang District and Malang District in East Java, erupted on Tuesday morning at 6.11am local time

Australia’s Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) issued a warning about the enormous volcanic ash plume, visible in astonishing footage posted by on social media

Mount Semeru is at Alert or Level II status

The dense ash column appeared white to gray and drifted southward

Residents have been told to avoid being within a 3km radius of the crater to avoid any incandescent rock ejections

The dense ash column appeared white to gray and drifted southward. 

Semeru – also known as ‘The Great Mountain’ – is the highest active volcano in Java at 3,676m (12,060ft).

It is located on the border of Lumajang District and Malang District in East Java and is one of Indonesia’s nearly 130 active volcanoes.

Indonesia straddles the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’, a highly seismically active zone, where different plates on the earth’s crust meet and create a large number of earthquakes and volcanoes.

The East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has evacuated elderly residents from Pronojiwo District and Candipuro District, Lumajang. 

In a translated written statement the East Java BPBD said: ‘The Rapid Response Team (TRC) of the Lumajang Regency BPBD carried out patrols and helped evacuate the elderly to safer places.

‘The pyroclastic flow is still ongoing, with a maximum amplitude of 40mm. The pyroclastic flow reached a distance of 8.5km from the mountain peak. The wind direction is towards the north.’ 

Japan Meteorological Agency is investigating whether there is possibility of tsunami following the eruption. 

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.