Jakarta, Nov. 20 -- Climbers trapped on a hiking trail during Mount Semeru's eruption in Lumajang, East Java, on Wednesday are safe and being evacuated, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) confirmed.

"Today, 178 climbers will descend to the Semeru Climbing Post at Ranu Pani," Novix Heryadi, commander of the Basarnas Surabaya Rescue Team, said on Thursday.

Basarnas Deputy for Operations and Preparedness Edy Prakoso earlier said field teams reported the climbers were camping in the Ranu Kumbolo area of Mount Semeru.

"The situation at Ranu Kumbolo is safe, but there has been an appeal to descend," he said on Wednesday night.

Ranu Kumbolo is a crater lake at an altitude of 2,400 meters above sea level, about six hours from th...