Mount Semeru Erupts Again Tonight (Thursday, January 8, 2026)

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Thursday (January 8, 2026) at 21:58 WIB. In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 35 times.

Citing 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 or 4,376 meters above sea level.

The ash column was observed to be white to grey with thick intensity towards the northwest. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 13 millimeters and a duration of 129 seconds.

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According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcano activity report, Mount Semeru's activity level is at Level III (Alert). Seismic observations on January 8, 2026, from 12:00-18:00 WIB showed 33 eruption earthquakes with amplitudes of 10-22 millimeters and earthquake durations of 71-177 seconds.

Furthermore, there were 5 exhalation earthquakes with amplitudes of 4-8 millimeters and durations of 42-69 seconds, and 1 distant tectonic earthquake with an amplitude of 10 millimeters, S-P 36 seconds, and a duration of 80 seconds.

PVMBG urges not to carry out any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, as far as 13 kilometers from the peak (eruption center). Beyond that distance, people should not engage in activities within 500 meters of the riverbank (river boundary) along Besuk Kobokan due to the potential for expansion of hot clouds and lava flows up to 17 kilometers from the peak.

Throughout 2026, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 124 volcanic eruptions across Indonesia. Mount Semeru in East Java has erupted the most, with 72 occurrences.

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