Mount Semeru Erupts Saturday Morning, Alert Level Raised

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at 10:02 WIB (Western Indonesian Time). In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 19 times.

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

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

According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcano activity report, Mount Semeru's activity level is at Level III (Alert). Seismic observations on January 20, 2024, from 00:00 to 06:00 WIB showed 16 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 12-22 millimeters and durations of 60-126 seconds.

Furthermore, there was 1 puffing quake with an amplitude of 8 millimeters and a duration of 43 seconds, and 1 harmonic tremor with an amplitude of 4 millimeters and a duration of 179 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 carry out 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 17 kilometers from the peak.

During 2024, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 97 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Nusa Tenggara had the most eruptions (46 times), while Mount Semeru erupted 6 times.