Mount Semeru Erupts Again This Morning, Ash Column Reaches 500 Meters Above the Peak

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Friday, April 19, 2024, at 06:45 WIB (Western Indonesian Time). In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 5 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 500 meters above the peak (4,176 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 April 19, 2024, from 00:00 to 06:00 WIB showed 9 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 13-22 millimeters and durations of 69-121 seconds.

Then, there were 2 shallow volcanic quakes with amplitudes of 3-5 mm and durations of 51-56 seconds, and 1 tremor with an amplitude of 6 millimeters and a duration of 37 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 buffer zone) along Besuk Kobokan due to the potential for expansion of pyroclastic flows and lava flows up to 17 kilometers from the peak.

During 2024, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 550 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Semeru in East Java has had the most eruptions, with 177 eruptions.