Mount Semeru Erupts Again This Morning, Volcanic Ash Reaches 700 Meters Above the Peak

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 05:32 WIB (Western Indonesian Time). In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 18 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 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 south. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 22 millimeters and a duration of 128 seconds.

According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcano activity report, Mount Semeru's activity level is at Level II (Alert). Observations of seismic activity on October 19, 2024, from 00:00 to 23:59 WIB, showed 59 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 10-22 millimeters and durations of 61-164 seconds.

Furthermore, there were 11 rockfall quakes with amplitudes of 2-8 mm and durations of 44-135 seconds, and 6 emission quakes with amplitudes of 3-8 millimeters and durations of 37-66 seconds.

The 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 4,506 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Ibu in North Maluku had the most eruptions (1,837 times), while Mount Semeru erupted 1,509 times.