The Lumajang Regency Government, through the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), has firmly denied the accuracy of a video currently going viral on social media. The video, uploaded on the @bencanapopuler YouTube channel, is narrated as documentation of the latest eruption of Mount Semeru; however, authorities have confirmed that the content is false information or a hoax.
The Chief Executive of BPBD Lumajang, Isnugroho, stated that his agency has conducted a thorough investigation and verified the data with official reports from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG). The results show that the narrative in the video correlates in no way with actual recorded volcanic activity data.
"We urge the public not to easily believe unverified content, let alone reshare it. This step is crucial to prevent panic among the public. Make sure to always refer to official information channels from PVMBG, BPBD Lumajang, and the Regency Government," Isnugroho emphasized on Saturday (4/7/2026).
According to MAGMA Indonesia records, Mount Semeru did erupt on July 3 and July 4, 2026, but the details of those events do not align with the visuals shared by the viral account. Currently, the status of Mount Semeru remains at Level III (Alert). PVMBG continues to emphasize the ban on activities within a 5-kilometer radius of the crater, as well as warning about the southeastern sector along the Besuk Kobokan flow up to 13 kilometers from the summit.
Isnugroho added that the spread of fake news could potentially disrupt the effectiveness of disaster mitigation on the ground. He invited all elements of society to be wiser in filtering information to maintain public order and collective safety in this disaster-prone area.
