Mount Semeru, located in East Java, has once again demonstrated a significant increase in volcanic activity. Throughout Friday (3/7/2026), the highest mountain on the island of Java recorded seven consecutive eruptions in just four hours, with the ash column reaching up to 1,300 meters above the summit.
According to an official report from the Mount Semeru Observation Post, the first eruption was detected at 06:06 WIB with a column height of 700 meters. The intensity of the eruptions varied, reaching heights between 400 meters and 1,300 meters. The highest eruptions were recorded at 07:58 WIB and 09:48 WIB, spewing gray ash south and southeast.
Observation officer Liswanto emphasized that Mount Semeru's status currently remains at Level III (Alert). The public is advised to stay vigilant and refrain from any activities in the southeastern sector along Besuk Kobokan, within a 13-kilometer radius from the eruption center. This prohibition is enforced to minimize the risk of pyroclastic flows and lahar flows.
In addition to the exclusion zone, residents are also prohibited from conducting activities within a 500-meter radius along the riverbanks of Besuk Kobokan, as well as five kilometers from the main crater. Authorities stressed the importance of remaining cautious about potential hazards such as incandescent rock fragments, lava flows, and cold lahar floods that could threaten river courses originating from Semeru's peak, particularly in the Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat areas.
