Mount Semeru, located on the border of Lumajang and Malang Regencies, East Java, is showing increased volcanic activity once again. From early Thursday morning through the forenoon, the highest volcano on Java Island was recorded erupting seven times, with ash column heights varying between 400 and 700 meters above the peak.
Mount Semeru Observation Post officer, Sigit Rian Alfian, confirmed that the latest eruption occurred at 07:47 WIB. The observed ash column was white to gray with a thick intensity, moving toward the southwest. Based on seismograph recordings, the eruption had a maximum amplitude of 21 millimeters and lasted for 124 seconds.
In addition to the eruptions, instrumental monitoring recorded high seismic activity over the past six hours, ranging from eruption earthquakes and gas emissions to distant tectonic activity. Given these conditions, volcanological authorities have maintained Mount Semeru's alert status at Level III (Alert).
Authorities issued a strict advisory urging the public to refrain from any activities within a five-kilometer radius of the summit crater due to the dangerous risk of incandescent rock projections. Additionally, residents are asked to stay clear of the southeastern sector along Besuk Kobokan up to 13 kilometers from the eruption center.
The public is advised to remain highly vigilant regarding potential threats of pyroclastic flows, lava, and cold lahar flows along river valleys originating from Mount Semeru. Vigilance should be focused primarily on the river basins of Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat, including surrounding tributaries that could potentially be affected by the recent volcanic activity.
