Indonesia’s Semeru Volcano Erupts, Alert Level Raised to Highest

Indonesia’s Semeru volcano erupted on Wednesday, prompting the country’s volcanology agency to raise the alert level for Java Island’s tallest mountain to the highest degree. Ash clouds reached heights of 5.6km (3.48 miles), with residents advised to keep a distance of 2.5km due to safety risks. Standing over 3,600 meters (12,000 feet) high, Semeru is just one of Indonesia’s almost 130 active volcanoes. As Indonesia sits on the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’, a region known for high seismic activity, the meeting of tectonic plates leads to a significant number of earthquakes and volcanoes.