Warning! Mount Semeru Erupts Again This Morning (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Wednesday (March 18, 2026) at 06:16 WIB. In the past week, Mount Semeru has erupted 30 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 is approximately 700 meters above the peak (4,376 meters above sea level).

The ash column was observed to be white to gray with thick intensity towards the northeast. The eruption was recorded on the seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 22 millimeters and a duration of 93 seconds.

(Read: Trend of Volcanic Eruptions in Recent Years)

According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcano activity report, the activity level of Mount Semeru is at Level III (Alert). Earthquake observations on March 18, 2026 from 00:00 to 06:00 WIB showed 18 eruption/explosion earthquakes with amplitudes of 12-22 millimeters and durations of 82-157 seconds.

Then, 3 emission earthquakes with amplitudes of 6-8 millimeters and durations of 82-104 seconds, as well as 2 harmonic earthquakes with amplitudes of 2 millimeters and durations of 526-1032 seconds.

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

Throughout 2026, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 1,073 volcanic eruptions across Indonesia. Mount Semeru in East Java has the most eruptions with 579 events.

(Read: Indonesia Has the Most Active Volcanoes in the World)