Mount Semeru Erupts Again This Morning, Volcanic Ash Reaches Approximately 800 Meters

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 6:23 AM WIB. In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 18 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 reach 800 meters above the peak or 4,476 meters above sea level.

The ash column was observed to be white to gray with moderate intensity towards the west. 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 March 9, 2024, from 00:00 to 06:00 AM WIB showed 25 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 15-22 millimeters and durations of 78-164 seconds.

Furthermore, there was 1 volcanic quake with an amplitude of 15 millimeters, S-P 2.8 seconds, and a duration of 20 seconds, and 1 local tectonic quake with an amplitude of 20 millimeters, S-P 7 seconds, and a duration of 12 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 conduct activities within 500 meters of the riverbank (river boundaries) 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 397 volcanic eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Marapi in West Sumatra had the most eruptions (136 times), while Mount Semeru erupted 111 times.