Mount Semeru Erupts Again in the Early Hours of Today, Ash Reaches Approximately 1,000 Meters High

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 03:44 WIB (Western Indonesian Time). In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 74 times.

According to eruption information from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) via the MAGMA Indonesia application, the ash column height was observed to be approximately 1,000 meters above the peak (4,676 meters above sea level).

The ash column was observed to be gray with moderate to thick intensity towards the northeast. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 22 millimeters and a duration of 130 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 15, 2024, from 00:00 to 23:59 WIB, showed 77 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 10-22 millimeters and durations of 57-154 seconds.

Furthermore, there were 16 rockfall quakes with amplitudes of 3-12 mm and durations of 54-130 seconds, and 13 emission quakes with amplitudes of 3-8 millimeters and durations of 34-69 seconds.

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

During 2024, MAGMA Indonesia recorded 5,939 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Ibu in North Maluku had the most eruptions (2,459 eruptions), while Mount Semeru erupted 2,099 times.