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Mount Semeru Closed as Heavy Rains Raise Risk Of Deadly Landslides
January 04, 2012

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Authorities in the East Java district of Lumajang have closed the trail to the peak of Mount Semeru because of heavy rain and an increased danger of landslides, an official said on Tuesday.

Anggoro Dwi Sujiharto, head of the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park, said the 3,676-meter-high Semeru had seen heavy rain and strong winds for the past week, increasing the danger for anyone climbing the peak.

“Beginning on Tuesday we will temporarily stop issuing permits for tourists to climb Mount Semeru,” he said.

Anggoro said that 104 of the 1,270 people given permits to climb the mountain over the Christmas and New Year holiday had not yet returned from their treks.

“Officials are waiting for those 104 climbers to come down, as their permits expire on Thursday,” he said. “After that Mount Semeru will be closed to all trekkers.”

He said the rains, which continue to fall in the area, had increased the risk of landslides, which not only posed an immediate risk to climbers but could also bury the signs that guide trekkers. The heavy rains and strong winds also present a danger to climbers, he added.

“We have also received reports that four trees have fallen because of the bad weather, so all of this convinced us to close the highest mountain on Java to climbers,” Anggoro said.

A benefit of the temporary closure, he said, is that it will give the ecosystem of the popular park time to recover from the impact of a steady stream of trekkers and other visitors.

Semeru, an active volcano that has spewed lava and smoke several times in the past year, is a popular climbing destination for Indonesians and foreign visitors, especially around major holidays.

The climbing trail begins at Ranu Pane, a lake at an altitude of 2,300 meters above sea level and about three kilometers from the southern rim of the Semeru crater.

Antara