Three days after a volcanic eruption on the Indonesian island of Java, helpers recovered more bodies. The number of deaths from the eruption of the 3,700-meter-high Semeru had risen to 34, and 16 more people were still missing, the local rescue service announced on Tuesday. According to the national civil protection agency, many victims were burned beyond recognition. So far, only about a dozen dead have been identified.
SN/APA/ADEK BERRY
Rescuers encounter difficult conditions when looking for victims
At least 68 people were reportedly injured and burned. Many houses were almost completely buried under ashes in the eruption. Around 2,000 affected people were housed in mosques and government buildings, among other places.
The volcano in the east of Indonesia’s most populous island erupted on Saturday and turned day into night with a huge cloud of smoke in the surrounding villages. Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited the region on Tuesday to assess the situation. “I came here today to make sure we do everything we can to find the missing,” he said. New houses would have to be built immediately for the homeless.
Semeru is the highest mountain on Java and is located in the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park. He has been increasingly active again since December 2020. The island nation of Indonesia is located on the so-called ring of fire in the Pacific and has almost 128 active volcanoes. This year the Merapi on Java, the Sinabung on Sumatra and the Lewotolo on Lembata had already erupted.
Accessed on December 7th, 2021 at 11:36 am on https://www.sn.at/panorama/international/nach-vulkanausbruch-in-indonesien-schon-34-tote-113658583