Mount Semeru Erupts Again This Afternoon, Volcanic Ash Plume 800 Meters Above Peak

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Friday (January 9, 2026) at 17:17 WIB. In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 46 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 be around 800 meters above the peak (4,476 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 22 millimeters and a duration of 93 seconds.

(Read: 4.8 M Earthquake Shakes 219 Km East of Levuka,)

According to MAGMA Indonesia's volcanic activity report, Mount Semeru's activity level is at Level III (Alert). Seismic observations on January 9, 2026, at 06:00-12:00 WIB showed 40 eruption earthquakes with an amplitude of 10-22 millimeters and a quake duration of 71-159 seconds.

Subsequently, there was 1 rockfall earthquake with an amplitude of 6 mm and a duration of 47 seconds, and 2 emission earthquakes with an amplitude of 3-5 millimeters and a duration of 49-64 seconds.

PVMBG advises against any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, as far as 13 kilometers from the peak (eruption center). Beyond that distance, the public should not engage in activities within 500 meters from the riverbanks (river boundaries) along Besuk Kobokan due to the potential for hot cloud expansion and lahars up to 17 kilometers from the peak.

Throughout 2026, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 139 volcanic eruptions across Indonesia. Mount Semeru in East Java had the most eruptions, with 83 occurrences.

(Read: Last Five Earthquakes Recorded by BMKG (Saturday, July 19, 2025 18:25:55 WIB))