Warning! Mount Semeru Erupts Again This Afternoon (Tuesday, August 20, 2024)

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at 11:43 WIB (Western Indonesian Time). In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 17 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 or 4,376 meters above sea level.

The ash column was observed to be white to gray with thick intensity towards the west. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 22 millimeters and a duration of 109 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 20, 2024, from 00:00 to 23:59 WIB showed 114 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 10-23 millimeters and durations of 49-170 seconds.

Furthermore, there was 1 rockfall earthquake with an amplitude of 4 mm and a duration of 65 seconds, and 4 tremor earthquakes with amplitudes of 8-26 millimeters and durations of 36-47 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 2,938 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Ibu in North Maluku had the most eruptions (1,089 eruptions), while Mount Semeru erupted 980 times.