Mount Semeru Erupts Again Tonight, Volcanic Ash Height Reaches 800 Meters Above Peak

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) at 8:25 PM WIB. In the past week, Mount Semeru has erupted 18 times.

Based on eruption information from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) via the MAGMA Indonesia application, the observed ash column height is approximately 800 meters above the peak (4,476 meters above sea level).

The ash column appears white to gray with thick intensity moving towards the east and southeast. The eruption was recorded on the seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 21 millimeters and a duration of 107 seconds.

(Read: Jakarta's Air Quality Ranked Second Worst in the World This Morning (Friday, June 17, 2022))

According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcano activity report, Mount Semeru's activity level is at Level III (Alert). Seismic observations on February 17, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM WIB showed 17 eruption/explosion earthquakes with amplitudes of 10-22 millimeters and durations of 68-143 seconds. Additionally, there was 1 volcanic earthquake with an amplitude of 30 millimeters and a duration of 7083 seconds.

PVMBG advises against any activities in the southeast sector along the Besuk Kobokan, within 13 kilometers of the peak (eruption center). Beyond that distance, residents are advised not to carry out activities within 500 meters of the riverbanks along the Besuk Kobokan due to the potential for being affected by expanding pyroclastic flows and lahar flows up to 17 kilometers from the peak.

Throughout 2026, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 648 volcanic eruptions across Indonesia. Mount Semeru in East Java has the highest number of eruptions with 338 events.

(Read: Indonesia's Air Quality Ranked Worst in ASEAN in 2022)