Rescuers carry away a body of a victim at Sumber Wuluh village in Indonesia’s Lumajang on Monday, after the Semeru volcano eruption that killed at least 14 people. AFP
Indonesia’s Mount Semeru spewed more ash on December 6, hampering the search for survivors as the death toll rose to 22 following the volcano’s deadly weekend eruption.
The biggest mountain on the island of Java thundered to life on December 4, ejecting a mushroom cloud of volcanic ash high into the sky and raining hot mud as thousands of panicked people fled their homes.
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 the number killed rose to 22 on December 6 and 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 December 6 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 said. “It is very likely bodies that have not been found are buried under the hot mudflow.”
Other rescuers helped desperate villagers salvage their belongings from wrecked homes. Some locals lifted mattresses and furniture on their shoulders while others carried goats in their arms.
Officials have advised locals not to travel within 5km of Semeru’s crater, as the nearby air is highly polluted and could affect vulnerable groups.
Ash from Semeru travelled up to 4km away after the eruption on December 4, Indonesia’s geological agency reported.
A sand mine company’s office in Kampung Renteng village was buried after the eruption, trapping 15 people, according to foreman Hasim, 65, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.
“There’s no news from them. Only one operator was rescued, he’s now at the hospital with burns,” he said.
Hasim said he ran home after the eruption.
“It was pitch dark,” he added. “It was only 3pm but it looked like night.”
Rescue officials said some were buried inside their vehicles, with no time to escape.
The Red Cross said it had rushed ambulances, medical teams, more than 65,000 surgical masks – to protect against ash and Covid – and other emergency supplies to the affected areas.
The ash and mud have also polluted the waterways around Mt Semeru, turning them into streams of dark grey sludge.
Rain is forecast for the area, which could further hinder rescue work.
There is also a risk of the rain causing ash sediment to form a new river of hot lava, the country’s top volcanologist Surono told a local TV station.
