Mount Semeru Erupts Again in the Early Hours of Today, Ash Column Reaches Approximately 300 Meters

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at 04:10 WIB (Western Indonesian Time). In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 23 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 300 meters above the peak, or 3,976 meters above sea level.

The ash column was observed to be white to gray with thick intensity towards the southwest. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 22 millimeters and a duration of 730 seconds.

According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcano activity report, Mount Semeru's activity level is at Level II (Alert). Observations of seismic activity on August 27, 2024, from 00:00 to 23:59 WIB, showed 95 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 12-23 millimeters and durations of 55-162 seconds.

Furthermore, there were 7 rockfall quakes with amplitudes of 3-7 mm and durations of 60-93 seconds, and 11 emission quakes with amplitudes of 3-6 millimeters and durations of 34-72 seconds.

PVMBG advises against any activity in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, up to 8 kilometers from the peak (eruption center). Outside this distance, people should not engage in activities within 500 meters of the riverbank (river buffer zone) along Besuk Kobokan due to the potential for the expansion of pyroclastic flows and lahars up to 13 kilometers from the peak.

During 2024, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 3,146 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Ibu in North Maluku had the most eruptions (1,209 eruptions), while Mount Semeru erupted 1,045 times.