Semeru Eruption Buries Pronojiwo Village, Leaving Homes and Public Facilities Destroyed

Lumajang: Large sections of Sumbersari Village in Pronojiwo District, East Java, have been devastated after Mount Semeru’s latest eruption buried residential areas under thick volcanic material. Village Head Suwarno described the destruction as extensive and called for immediate government intervention.

“We need urgent action. We’re not talking about dozens of residents—there are hundreds who must be rescued and assisted,” Suwarno told Metro TV’s Breaking News on Thursday, November 20, 2025.

According to initial assessments, more than one hundred homes and at least eight prayer rooms were destroyed, with the most severe damage occurring in neighborhood units 11 and 12 of Kampung Kamar A.

Suwarno pointed out that what was once a densely populated settlement is now unrecognizable. Houses, prayer rooms, roads, and even livestock shelters have disappeared beneath deposits of volcanic debris.

“This entire area used to be a residential zone. Everything has been buried. What you see here is only a quarter of what remains,” he said.

He added that since the 2021 eruption, residents have been prohibited from living in the red zone and were provided with permanent housing in Sumber Mujur. However, many returned due to economic necessity.

“The government built permanent housing, but people came back because of economic factors,” he explained.

A joint response team is now conducting damage assessments while survivors take refuge in safer locations. Local authorities are urging quick mobilization of aid, noting that numerous residents have lost their homes, belongings, and sources of livelihood.

Mount Semeru, located on the border between Lumajang and Malang regencies, erupted at around 14:13 WIB on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) reported that the pyroclastic flow traveled nearly 13 kilometers during the event.