Mount Semeru: Indonesian rescuers face burning ash amid race to save villagers
- At least 34 died after being hit by searing volcanic debris, and more bodies are being found, while survivors are burned beyond recognition
- Indonesian President Joko Widodo vows to rebuild as volcano death toll rises and more than 2,000 villagers are left displaced and homeless
Relief workers are struggling to clear tons of volcanic debris following the eruption of Mount Semeru in Indonesia’s East Java province on Saturday.
On Tuesday they focused on three locations in the worst-hit village of Sumberwuluh, where people are still believed to be trapped in houses that were buried to their rooftops. Their efforts are being hampered by the intense heat.
“The volcanic ash deposits are still at high temperatures, and the deeper we dig the hotter it gets,” said Wayan Suyatna, head of preparedness at the search and rescue agency in East Java.
At least 34 people have been confirmed dead and dozens are still missing after the volcano erupted in the East Java province erupted at the weekend, the country’s search and rescue agency said on Tuesday.
Clouds of hot ash shot high into the sky and an avalanche of lava and searing gas swept as far as 11 kilometres (7 miles) down Mount Semeru’s slopes in a sudden eruption on Saturday triggered by heavy rain.