Mount Semeru Erupts Sunday Morning, Status Raised to Alert

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Sunday (February 18, 2024) at 6:11 AM WIB. In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 15 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 reach 400 meters above the peak (4,076 meters above sea level).

The ash column was observed to be white to gray with moderate intensity towards the south. 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 February 18, 2024, from 00:00 to 06:00 AM WIB showed 24 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 11-22 millimeters and durations of 40-115 seconds.

Furthermore, there was 1 rockfall quake with an amplitude of 10 mm and a duration of 36 seconds, and 5 emission quakes with amplitudes of 4-8 millimeters and durations of 28-51 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 boundary) 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 215 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Marapi in West Sumatra had the most eruptions (57 times), while Mount Semeru erupted 51 times.