Mount Semeru Erupts on Monday Night, Accompanied by Loud Explosions

Mount Semeru in East Java experienced another eruption on Monday (28/9) night at 23:01 WIB. The eruption of the highest volcano on Java Island was also accompanied by the appearance of quite loud explosive sounds.

According to the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) of the Geological Agency under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), these explosive sounds are a normal occurrence during volcanic eruption activity. The explosion, heard at 23:02:22 WIB via CCTV monitoring footage, originated from the eruption process in the summit crater of Semeru.

“The sound of the explosion is due to the occurrence of the eruption,” said the Head of PVMBG, Rita Susilawati, as reported by detikJatim.

Rita added that the release of energy in the form of explosive sounds during an eruption can occur at any time, depending on the characteristics of the eruption.

“It is common. Sometimes volcanic eruptions are accompanied by explosions, and sometimes they are not,” she explained.

Based on reports from the Semeru Volcano Observation Post (PGA) PVMBG, the height of the ash column resulting from the eruption was observed to reach approximately 600 metres above the summit, or about 4,276 metres above sea level. The intensity of the white to grey ash was directed towards the southwest.

“The eruption was recorded on the seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 22 mm and a temporary duration of approximately 2 minutes and 9 seconds,” the official PVMBG report stated.