Mount Semeru Erupts Thursday Morning, Alert Level Remains at Waspada

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 7:28 WIB (Western Indonesian Time). In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 62 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 500 meters above the peak (4,176 meters above sea level).

The ash column was observed to be white to gray with thick intensity towards the north and northeast. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 22 millimeters and a duration of 115 seconds.

According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcano activity report, Mount Semeru's activity level is at Level II (Alert). Observations of seismic activity on January 9, 2025, from 00:00 to 23:59 WIB showed 48 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 10-22 millimeters and durations of 58-160 seconds.

Furthermore, there were 11 puffing quakes with amplitudes of 3-8 millimeters and durations of 22-76 seconds, and 13 harmonic tremors with amplitudes of 4-10 millimeters and durations of 39-584 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 carry out 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 2025, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 181 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Semeru in East Java has experienced the most eruptions, with 124 eruptions.