Mount Semeru Erupts on Saturday Night, Status Remains on Alert

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 9:25 PM WIB. In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 48 times.

According to eruption information from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) via the MAGMA Indonesia application, the ash column height was observed to reach 600 meters above the peak or 4,276 meters above sea level.

The ash column was observed to be gray with thick intensity towards the northwest. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 22 millimeters and a duration of 105 seconds.

According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcano activity report, Mount Semeru's activity level is at Level II (Alert). Observations of seismic activity on August 3, 2024, from 00:00 to 23:59 WIB showed 55 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 16-23 millimeters and durations of 20-159 seconds.

Furthermore, there were 6 rockfall quakes with amplitudes of 5-7 mm and durations of 36-94 seconds, and 8 emission quakes with amplitudes of 4-8 millimeters and durations of 31-66 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 pyroclastic flow and lahar flows extending up to 17 kilometers from the peak.

During 2024, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 2,336 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Semeru in East Java has experienced the most eruptions, with 804 eruptions.