Mount Semeru Erupts Early Thursday Morning, Alert Level Raised

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at 02.27 WIB (Western Indonesian Time). In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 5 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 be approximately 500 meters above the peak or 4,176 meters above sea level.

The ash column was observed to be white to gray in color with moderate to thick intensity towards the south and southwest. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 22 millimeters and a duration of 124 seconds.

According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcano activity report, Mount Semeru's activity level is at Level III (Alert). Observations of seismic activity on March 28, 2024, from 18.00 to 23.59 WIB showed 14 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 16-22 millimeters and durations of 95-115 seconds.

Then, there were 2 rockfall quakes with amplitudes of 6-7 mm and durations of 13-44 seconds, and 4 emission quakes with amplitudes of 4-5 millimeters and durations of 29-50 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 lava flows extending up to 17 kilometers from the peak.

During 2024, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 444 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Marapi in West Sumatra had the most eruptions (148 times), while Mount Semeru erupted 136 times.