Semeru Erupts Today, Accompanied by Pyroclastic Flows

Semeru volcano, standing at 3,676 metres above sea level, erupted today. The eruption was accompanied by a pyroclastic flow (APG).

‘The eruption of Semeru occurred on 7 March 2026 at 10:20 WIB, but the height of the ash plume was not observed,’ said Sigit Rian Alfian, an officer at the Semeru Monitoring Post, as quoted by Antara on Saturday, 7 March 2026. He said the eruption of the volcano on the border of Lumajang and Malang regencies, East Java, was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 12 mm and a duration of about 4 minutes 35 seconds. ‘The eruption consisted of a pyroclastic flow with an unknown travel distance because the volcano was shrouded in fog. It was directed to the southeast (Besuk Kobokan),’ he said. According to officers’ records, Semeru experienced nine eruptions on Saturday, the first at 00:23 WIB and the ninth at 10:20 WIB, accompanied by pyroclastic flows. Sigit explained that Semeru is currently at Level III (Siaga) with a recommendation not to carry out any activities in the southeastern sector along Besuk Kobokan, up to 13 km from the summit (eruption source). ‘Beyond that distance, the public should avoid activities within 500 metres of the riverbank along Besuk Kobokan due to the potential for the pyroclastic flow to expand and lahars reaching up to 17 km from the summit,’ he said. He also urged the public not to operate within a 5 km radius of the crater. The public should also be vigilant for potential pyroclastic flows, lava flows, and lahars along river valleys that originate at the summit of Semeru, particularly along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat, as well as the potential for lahars in small rivers that are tributaries of Besuk Kobokan.