Warning! Mount Semeru Erupts Again Tonight (Friday, January 23, 2026)

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Friday (1/23/2026) at 7:41 PM WIB. In the last 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 height of the observed ash column reached None meters above the peak (None meters above sea level).

Visual eruption was not observed. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 18 millimeters and a duration of 111 seconds.

(Read: Provinces in Indonesia Most Frequently Hit by Floods Until End of 2025)

According to MAGMA Indonesia's volcanic activity report, Mount Semeru's activity level is at Level III (Siaga/Alert). Seismicity observations on January 23, 2026, at 12:00-18:00 WIB showed 32 eruption/explosion earthquakes with amplitudes of 10-22 millimeters and earthquake durations of 61-141 seconds.

Then, 1 rockfall earthquake with an amplitude of 5 mm and a duration of 44 seconds, and 2 distant tectonic earthquakes with amplitudes of 15-30 millimeters s-p 17-35 seconds and earthquake durations of 46-155 seconds.

PVMBG urges people 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 conduct activities within 500 meters from the riverbanks (river borders) along Besuk Kobokan due to the potential for expansion of hot clouds and lahars up to 17 kilometers from the peak.

Throughout 2026, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 316 volcanic eruptions across Indonesia. Mount Semeru in East Java had the most eruptions, with 171 recorded.

(Read: Update on Damaged Facilities Due to Floods and Landslides in Sumatra (December 11, 2025))