Mount Semeru Erupts Again This Morning, Ash Column Reaches Approximately 600 Meters

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at 08:46 WIB (Western Indonesian Time). 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 ash column height 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 north. 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). Observations of seismic activity from 00:00 to 06:00 WIB on February 20, 2024, showed 21 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 12-22 millimeters and durations of 63-160 seconds.

Furthermore, there were 6 tremor quakes with amplitudes of 2-6 millimeters and durations of 42-63 seconds, and 1 harmonic tremor with an amplitude of 2 millimeters and a duration of 438 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, the public should not engage in activities within 500 meters of the riverbank (river boundary) along Besuk Kobokan due to the potential for the expansion of pyroclastic flows and lava flows up to 17 kilometers from the peak.

During 2024, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 226 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Marapi in West Sumatra had the most eruptions (61 times), while Mount Semeru erupted 57 times.