Lumajang, East Java, April 4 -- Mount Semeru in East Java erupted nine times on Saturday, sending ash plumes up to 1,000 meters above the summit, authorities said, as officials maintained an alert status and urged residents to avoid high-risk zones.

The 3,676-meter volcano recorded its first eruption at 12:07 a.m., producing an ash column about 700 meters high, drifting southward with moderate intensity, according to monitoring data.

"The highest eruption occurred at 5:19 a.m., with an ash column reaching around 1,000 meters above the summit," Mount Semeru Observation Post officer Liswanto said in a report.

He said the ninth eruption took place at 6:22 a.m., with an ash column rising about 700 meters above the summit, or roughly 4,376 ...