Mount Semeru Erupts Six Times Since Early Morning, Authorities Warn of Hot Clouds and Lava Flows
Mount Semeru, located on the border of Lumajang and Malang regencies in East Java, erupted again with hot pyroclastic flows on Friday (15 May) at 11:57 AM. Although volcanic activity has increased, the height of the ash column and the distance of the hot cloud flow could not be visually observed due to thick fog covering the peak of the mountain.
Officer at the Mount Semeru Observation Post, Mukdas Sofian, reported that the eruption was recorded on the seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 22 mm and a duration of 4 minutes and 10 seconds. Since early morning at 00:53 AM until noon, the highest mountain on the island of Java has erupted six times.
“An eruption of Mount Semeru occurred at 11:57 AM, but the height of the volcanic ash column could not be observed because it was covered in fog,” said Mukdas Sofian in his written report on Friday (15 May).
Currently, Mount Semeru is still at Alert Level III. Authorities have issued a strict recommendation for the public and tourists not to carry out any activities in the southeastern sector, especially along Besuk Kobokan, within a radius of 13 kilometers from the peak.
In addition, the public is prohibited from carrying out activities within a radius of 500 meters from the banks of the river along Besuk Kobokan due to the risk of expansion of hot clouds and lava flows that can reach a distance of 17 kilometers from the peak. The safe radius from the crater or peak is set at five kilometers to avoid the danger of falling rocks.
Mukdas also reminded residents to remain vigilant against the potential for lava in rivers that originate at the peak of Semeru.
“Especially along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat, and the potential for lava in small rivers that are tributaries of Besuk Kobokan,” he concluded. (Ant/Z-10)
Mount Semeru erupted on Monday (11/5/2026) morning with an ash column reaching 800 meters. At Alert Level III, the public is prohibited from approaching within a 5 km radius.
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Currently, Semeru is at Alert Level III.
The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) reported the occurrence of hot pyroclastic flows or ‘wedus gembel’ on Mount Merapi on Sunday (9/11).