Warning! Mount Semeru Erupts Again Tonight (Wednesday, February 18, 2026)

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) at 23:28 WIB. In the past week, Mount Semeru has erupted 35 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 700 meters above the peak or 4,376 meters above sea level.

The observed ash column is white to gray with moderate intensity heading north. The eruption of Mount Semeru is still ongoing when this report was made.

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

According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcano activity report, the activity level of Mount Semeru is at Level III (Alert). Earthquake observations on February 18, 2026 from 12:00-18:00 WIB showed 21 eruption/explosion earthquakes with amplitudes of 12-23 millimeters and durations of 88-138 seconds.

Then, 3 emission earthquakes with amplitudes of 2-7 millimeters and durations of 30-69 seconds, as well as 1 volcanic flood tremor with an amplitude of 16 millimeters and a duration of 1956 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 should not carry out activities within 500 meters of the riverbank along the Besuk Kobokan due to the potential for being affected by expanding hot clouds and lahar flows up to 17 kilometers from the peak.

Throughout 2026, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 671 volcanic eruptions across Indonesia. Mount Semeru in East Java has the most eruptions with 355 events.

(Read: Only 12 Regions Meet WHO 2024 Air Quality Standards)