Mount Semeru Erupts Again Today, Volcanic Ash Reaches 600 Meters

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Friday, April 19, 2024, at 09:16 WIB (Western Indonesian Time). In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 6 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 be approximately 600 meters above the peak, or 4,276 meters above sea level.

The ash column was observed to be white to gray with moderate intensity towards the south. The eruption of Mount Semeru was still ongoing at the time of this report.

According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcano activity report, the activity level of Mount Semeru is at Level III (Alert). Seismic observations on April 19, 2024, from 00:00 to 06:00 WIB showed 9 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 13-22 millimeters and durations of 69-121 seconds.

Furthermore, there were 2 rockfall quakes with amplitudes of 3-5 mm and durations of 51-56 seconds, and 1 emission quake with an amplitude of 6 millimeters and a duration of 37 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, the public should not carry out activities within 500 meters of the riverbank (riverbed) along Besuk Kobokan due to the potential for pyroclastic flow and lahar flows extending up to 17 kilometers from the peak.

During 2024, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 551 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Semeru in East Java has had the most eruptions, with 178 eruptions.