Mount Semeru Erupts Again This Morning (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Wednesday (March 18, 2026) at 10:42 WIB. In the past week, Mount Semeru has erupted 31 times.

Quoting eruption information from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) via the MAGMA Indonesia application, the observed ash column height reached 400 meters above the peak or 4,076 meters above sea level.

The ash column was observed to be white to gray in color with thick intensity heading north. The eruption was recorded on the seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 22 millimeters and a duration of 56 seconds.

(Read: Floods and Forest Fires, the Most Common Disasters in Indonesia Throughout 2025)

According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcanic activity report, Mount Semeru's activity level is at Level III (Alert). Earthquake observations on March 18, 2026 from 00:00-06:00 WIB showed 18 eruption/explosion earthquakes with amplitudes of 12-22 millimeters and durations of 82-157 seconds.

Then, 3 emission earthquakes with amplitudes of 6-8 millimeters and durations of 82-104 seconds, as well as 2 harmonic earthquakes with amplitudes of 2 millimeters and durations of 526-1032 seconds.

PVMBG advises against any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, within 13 kilometers of the peak (eruption center). Beyond that distance, residents are advised not to carry out activities within 500 meters of the riverbank along Besuk Kobokan due to the potential for being affected by expanding hot clouds and lava flows up to 17 kilometers from the peak.

Throughout 2026, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 1,075 volcanic eruptions across Indonesia. Mount Semeru in East Java has the most eruptions with 580 events.

(Read: Floods and Extreme Weather, the Most Common Disasters in Indonesia in 2025)