Mount Semeru Erupts on Wednesday Afternoon, Status Remains on Alert

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 5:27 PM WIB. In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 26 times.

Based on eruption information from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) via the MAGMA Indonesia application, the height of the ash column was observed to reach 600 meters above the peak (4,276 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 a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 20 millimeters and a duration of 113 seconds.

According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcano activity report, Mount Semeru's activity level is at Level II (Alert). Observations of seismic activity on December 18, 2024, from 00.00 to 23.59 WIB showed 58 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 12-22 millimeters and durations of 57-199 seconds.

Then, there was 1 rockfall earthquake with an amplitude of 4 mm and a duration of 69 seconds, and 19 tremor earthquakes with amplitudes of 3-8 millimeters and durations of 37-99 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 lava flows extending up to 17 kilometers from the peak.

During 2024, MAGMA Indonesia recorded 5,979 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Ibu in North Maluku had the most eruptions (2,472 eruptions), while Mount Semeru erupted 2,123 times.