Thu Nov 20 12:41:17 UTC 2025: News Article:
Mount Semeru Eruption: Hundreds of Climbers Safe After Being Stranded
Jakarta, Indonesia – Over 170 climbers who were stranded on Mount Semeru in East Java after its sudden eruption on Wednesday have been confirmed safe and are being assisted in returning, Indonesian authorities announced Thursday.
The climbers, comprising climbers, porters, guides, and tourism officials, had ascended the 3,676-meter volcano and found themselves stranded at the Ranu Kumbolo camping area following the eruption which sent ash and gas over 13 kilometers away. Authorities raised the alert status to its highest level.
“They are safe and now being helped to return,” stated Priatin Hadi Wijaya, head of the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation. Officials assured that the Ranu Kumbolo camping area is located outside the main danger zone of 8 kilometers from the crater, although exposure to volcanic ash was possible.
The eruption forced nearly 900 residents to seek shelter in schools, mosques, and village halls. One resident described the experience as “very horrible,” recounting how the afternoon turned pitch black due to the ash cloud. Reports indicate that some homes near the volcano were partially buried by ash and rock fragments.
Mount Semeru, Indonesia’s highest peak, sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and is one of the country’s nearly 130 active volcanoes. The volcano has erupted frequently in the past, including a devastating eruption in 2021 that claimed 62 lives. Authorities are closely monitoring Semeru due to the risks it poses to nearby communities, transport routes, and aviation.
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