JAKARTA, Dec 5 — At least 13 people died from severe burns while 98 others were injured following the sudden eruption of Mount Semeru in East Java’s Lumajang District on Saturday.
Spokesperson for Indonesia's National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) Abdul Muhari said those injured, including two pregnant women, had been hospitalised.
The search and rescue operation is ongoing to evacuate trapped residents, he said in a statement.
BNPB has also coordinated with the army to step up the evacuation via land, and prepared helicopters to quicken the process.
The 3,676-metre-high Mount Semeru spewed thick columns of ash over 12,000 metres into the sky at 3.20pm yesterday.
A total of 902 people in the district were moved to temporary government shelters in Supiturang and Curah Kobokan villages.
— Bernama
