Mount Semeru Erupts Again Monday Morning! Ash Column Rises 800 Meters

LUMAJANG - Mount Semeru, located on the border of Lumajang and Malang Regencies, East Java, erupted again, spewing an ash plume 800 meters above the summit on Monday, November 10.

"The eruption of Mount Semeru occurred at 4:36 a.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB), with an observed eruption column height of approximately 800 meters above the summit, or 4,476 meters above sea level," said Sigit Rian Alfian, an officer at the Mount Semeru Observation Post, as quoted by Antara on Monday morning.

He stated that the ash column was observed to be white to gray in color, with a thick intensity, heading northeast.

"The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 22 mm and a duration of 131 seconds," he said.

Mount Semeru's activity remains dominated by daily eruptions. Seismic observations on Sunday (November 9) recorded 135 eruption earthquakes with amplitudes of 10-23 mm and durations of 54-156 seconds.

In addition, 13 avalanche earthquakes were recorded with amplitudes of 2-8 mm and durations of 37-100 seconds.

Sigit explained that Mount Semeru remains at Alert (Level II), so the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has issued several recommendations: prohibiting the public from engaging in any activity in the southeastern sector, along Besuk Kobokan, within eight kilometers of the summit (the eruption epicenter).

Beyond this distance, he said, the public should not engage in any activity within 500 meters of the riverbank along Besuk Kobokan, due to the potential for spreading pyroclastic flows and lava flows up to 13 kilometers from the summit.

"The public is also advised to avoid activities within a three-kilometer radius of the crater or summit of Mount Semeru, due to the risk of ejected incandescent rocks," he said.

He urged the public to be aware of the potential for hot clouds, lava flows, and lahars along rivers and valleys that originate at the summit of Mount Semeru, especially 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.