Mount Semeru Erupts Again Tonight, Volcanic Ash Reaches 500 Meters Above the Peak

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Friday, December 13, 2024, at 6:18 PM WIB. In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 62 times.

Based on eruption information from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) via the MAGMA Indonesia application, the ash column height was observed to be approximately 500 meters above the peak or 4,176 meters above sea level.

The ash column was observed to be white to gray with thick intensity towards the northeast. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 21 millimeters and a duration of 144 seconds.

According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcano activity report, Mount Semeru's activity level is at Level II (Alert). Observations of seismic activity on December 13, 2024, from 00:00 to 23:59 WIB showed 73 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 10-22 millimeters and durations of 50-229 seconds.

Then, there were 2 rockfall quakes with amplitudes of 6 mm and durations of 50-135 seconds, and 14 emission quakes with amplitudes of 3-8 millimeters and durations of 39-58 seconds.

PVMBG advises against any activity in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, up to 13 kilometers from the peak (eruption center). Outside this distance, people should not engage in activities within 500 meters of the riverbank (river buffer zone) along Besuk Kobokan due to the potential for the expansion of pyroclastic flows and lava flows up to 17 kilometers from the peak.

During 2024, MAGMA Indonesia recorded 5,916 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Ibu in North Maluku had the most eruptions (2,448 eruptions), while Mount Semeru erupted 2,087 times.