Mount Semeru Erupts Again This Morning, Ash Reaches 800 Meters Above the Peak

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Friday, March 8, 2024, at 5:42 AM WIB. In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 16 times.

According to 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 800 meters above the peak (4,476 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 volcanic activity report, the activity level of Mount Semeru is at Level III (Alert). Seismic observations on March 8, 2024, from 00:00 to 06:00 AM WIB showed 27 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 14-22 millimeters and durations of 70-130 seconds.

Then, there were 3 emission quakes with amplitudes of 5-7 millimeters and durations of 21-65 seconds, and 2 deep volcanic quakes with amplitudes of 10-11 millimeters, s-p 1.35-2.88 seconds, and durations of 9-15 seconds.

The 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 engage in 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 has recorded 393 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Marapi in West Sumatra had the most eruptions (135 times), while Mount Semeru erupted 109 times.