Mount Semeru Erupts Again This Afternoon, Volcanic Ash Reaches Approximately 700 Meters

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, at 1:44 PM WIB. In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 20 times.

Based on eruption information from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) via the MAGMA Indonesia application, the height of the ash column was observed to reach 700 meters above the peak (4,376 meters above sea level).

The ash column was observed to be gray with thick intensity towards the southwest and west. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 21 millimeters and a duration of 113 seconds.

According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcanic activity report, Mount Semeru's activity level is at Level II (Alert). Observations of seismic activity on December 24, 2024, from 00.00 to 23.59 WIB showed 55 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 11-22 millimeters and durations of 64-160 seconds.

Then, there was 1 rockfall earthquake with an amplitude of 4 mm and a duration of 125 seconds, and 9 tremor earthquakes with amplitudes of 2-9 millimeters and durations of 40-82 seconds.

PVMBG advises against any activity in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, up to 8 kilometers from the peak (eruption center). Outside this distance, people should not engage in activities within 500 meters of the riverbank (river edge) along Besuk Kobokan due to the potential for pyroclastic flow and lahar flows extending up to 13 kilometers from the peak.

During 2024, MAGMA Indonesia recorded 6,061 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Ibu in North Maluku had the most eruptions (2,498 eruptions), while Mount Semeru erupted 2,169 times.