Mount Semeru Erupts on Monday Night, Alert Level Raised

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Monday, February 26, 2024, at 10:37 PM WIB. In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 7 times.

According to eruption information from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) via the MAGMA Indonesia application, the observed ash column height reached 500 meters above the peak or 4,176 meters above sea level.

The ash column was observed to be white to gray with moderate to thick intensity towards the southwest. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 22 millimeters and a duration of 103 seconds.

According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcano activity report, Mount Semeru's activity level is at Level III (Alert). Observations of seismic activity on February 26, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM WIB showed 20 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 10-20 millimeters and durations of 56-130 seconds.

Furthermore, there were 3 rockfall quakes with amplitudes of 3-16 mm and durations of 64-102 seconds, and 2 emission quakes with amplitudes of 2-4 millimeters and durations of 33-39 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 engage in activities within 500 meters of the riverbank (river buffer zone) 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 280 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Marapi in West Sumatra had the most eruptions (79 times), while Mount Semeru erupted 73 times.