Indonesian Volcano Erupts, Forcing the Evacuation of 2,000

Thought question: What character traits does a first responder, like an EMT or firefighter, need in an emergency?

Mount Semeru erupted early Sunday. It is Indonesia's tallest and most active volcano. Roads and buildings were covered in ash. As many as 2,000 people had to leave their homes. 

Officials said no one has been hurt or died from the eruption. The blast sent ash 9 miles into the air. Ash was scattered as far as 7 miles from the volcano. Debris from the volcano buried homes. Hundreds of first responders went to the hardest-hit villages in the area. People took shelter in city buildings and schools.  

The volcano is 12,060 feet tall. It has erupted at least 55 times since 1818. The most recent occurred about a year ago. At least 51 people died from that eruption. Hundreds of others were hurt. After that, the Indonesian government moved nearly 3,000 homes farther away from the volcano. 

The chief of an affected area told The Associated Press (AP) that people started leaving as soon as they heard the mountain rumble.

“They have learned an important lesson on how to avoid the danger,” he told the AP.

Mount Semeru is one of 47 volcanoes around the world that are in “continuing eruption status," according to the Global Volcanism Program. The network said the current level of volcanic activity isn’t unusual. 

The volcano in Indonesia exploded eight days after Hawai‘i Island’s Mauna Loa erupted. No injuries have been reported from that eruption. However, officials said Mauna Loa’s lava flow has crept almost 2.4 miles from one of the island's main highways. 

Photo from Reuters.