Malang, East Java, July 18 -- Mount Semeru on the border of Lumajang and Malang districts of East Java erupted five times on Friday morning, sending volcanic ash plumes 700 meters above the peak.

Three eruptions were recorded at 00:51 a.m., 1:17 a.m., and 5:55 a.m., with no visual observations.

"The fourth eruption occurred at 6:22 a.m., with observed eruption column height of approximately 700 meters above the summit, or 4,376 meters above sea level," an officer at the Mount Semeru Observation Post, Liswanto, informed in a written report received here.

The ash column was observed to be white to gray, with moderate intensity and heading north, he added.

The fifth eruption was recorded at 7:04 a.m., with the observed ash column reachin...