Rescue ops halted as volcano erupts again in Indonesia
LUMAJANG, INDONESIA: Indonesia’s Mount Semeru spewed more ash on Monday, hampering the search for survivors as aerial images showed the extent of the devastation unleashed by the volcano’s deadly weekend eruption.
The biggest mountain on the island of Java thundered to life on Saturday, ejecting a mushroom of volcanic ash high into the sky and raining hot mud as thousands of panicked people fled their homes. At least 15 were killed.
Aerial photos showed entire streets filled with grey volcanic ash and mud, which had swallowed many homes and vehicles, including whole trucks. Indonesia’s national disaster agency said 27 people were still missing.
“I’m still hoping my son will be found... Every time I hear victims have been found, I hope it is my son,” said Maskur Suhri of Sumberwuluh village, who was collecting palm tree sap when Semeru erupted.
“There’s a very small chance he survived... Maybe it’s my son’s fate, but I still hope he will be found, even just his body.”
Fresh volcanic activity on Monday hampered search efforts, forcing rescue teams to pull out from some areas.
“There was a small fresh eruption and it could endanger the evacuation teams,” said rescue worker Rizal Purnama.
Dangerous thick plumes of smoke continued to emerge from areas blanketed by the volcanic ash, while rescuers in hardhats tried to dig through the mud to try and find survivors and recover bodies.
Their task was made more difficult as the volcanic debris had started to harden.
“It’s very difficult... with simple tools,” Rizal Purnama said. “It is very likely bodies that have not been found are buried under the hot mudflow.”
Officials have advised locals not to travel within five kilometres (3.1 miles) of Semeru’s crater, as the nearby air is highly polluted and could affect vulnerable groups.
Ash from Semeru travelled up to four kilometres away after the Saturday eruption, Indonesia’s geological agency reported.