Mount Semeru Erupts Again This Afternoon, Volcanic Ash Plume Around 800 Meters High

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Tuesday (January 6, 2026) at 4:10 PM WIB. In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 6 times.

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

The ash column was observed to be gray with thick intensity towards the northeast. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 13 millimeters and a duration of 121 seconds.

(Read: A 4.5 M Earthquake Shakes 94 Km Southwest of Banda Aceh,)

According to MAGMA Indonesia's volcano activity report, Mount Semeru's activity level is at Level III (Alert). Seismicity observations on January 6, 2026, from 06:00-12:00 WIB showed 31 eruption tremors/earthquakes with amplitudes of 11-22 millimeters and durations of 64-115 seconds.

Additionally, there was 1 rockfall earthquake with an amplitude of 6 mm and a duration of 20 seconds, and 4 emission earthquakes with amplitudes of 4-7 millimeters and durations of 25-52 seconds.

PVMBG urges against any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, as far as 13 kilometers from the summit (eruption center). Beyond this distance, the public should not engage in activities within 500 meters of the riverbanks along Besuk Kobokan due to the potential for expansion of hot clouds and lahars up to 17 kilometers from the summit.

Throughout 2026, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 81 volcanic eruptions across Indonesia. Mount Semeru in East Java has erupted the most, with 43 occurrences.

(Read: A 4.16 M Earthquake Shakes Mona Passage)