Mount Semeru Erupts Again Tonight (Tuesday, March 17, 2026)

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) at 6:34 PM WIB. In the past week, Mount Semeru has erupted 25 times.

Based on eruption information from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) via the MAGMA Indonesia application, the observed ash column height reached 700 meters above the peak (4,376 meters above sea level).

The observed ash column was white to gray with moderate intensity heading north. The eruption of Mount Semeru was still ongoing when this report was made.

(Read: 2,000 Natural Disasters in Indonesia in 2024, Floods Dominated)

According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcano activity report, Mount Semeru's activity level is at Level III (Alert). Seismic observations on March 17, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM WIB showed 20 eruption/explosion earthquakes with an amplitude of 12-22 millimeters and a duration of 45-140 seconds. Then, 5 emission earthquakes with an amplitude of 2-4 millimeters and a duration of 31-37 seconds.

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

Throughout 2026, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 1,065 volcanic eruptions across Indonesia. Mount Semeru in East Java had the most eruptions with 574 events.

(Read: 137 Natural Disaster Events Towards the End of January 2024, Floods Were the Most Common)