Semeru Eruption Accompanied by Lontaran Lava Pijar

Mount Semeru erupted accompanied by an eruption as high as 800 meters and a jet of incandescent lava on Tuesday (6/1/2026) evening. ANTARA/HO-PVMBG

LUMAJANG - Mount Semeru, which is on the border of Lumajang and Malang Regencies, East Java, erupted again accompanied by an eruption as high as 800 meters above the peak and the ejection of incandescent lava on Tuesday night.

"Mount Semeru erupted at 20.29 WIB with an observed eruption column height of about 800 meters above the peak or 4,476 meters above sea level (msl)," said Mount Semeru Observation Post Officer, Liswanto, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 6.

According to him, the column of ash observed was white to gray with medium intensity towards the north and the eruption was recorded on the seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 22 mm and a duration of about 2 minutes 8 seconds.

"The eruption is still ongoing while this report is being made by officers," he said.

Based on data from officers, the highest mountain on Java Island was recorded to have experienced 12 eruptions with the first eruption occurring at 08.07 WIB and the 12th eruption at 20.29 WIB with eruption heights ranging from 400 meters to 800 meters

He explained that Mount Semeru was at Level III Status (Alert), so the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) with the recommendation

"People should not carry out any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, as far as 13 km from the peak (the center of the eruption)," he said.

Outside this distance, the public should also not carry out activities at a distance of 500 meters from the river bank (river border) along Besuk Kobokan because they have the potential to be hit by the expansion of the hot cloud and lava flow up to a distance of 17 km from the peak.

"The public also should not be active within a radius of 5 km from the crater/peak of Mount Semeru because they are prone to the danger of stone throwing (pijar)," he said.

He explained that the public needed to be aware of the potential for hot clouds, lava discharge, and lahar along the river/valley flows upstream of the Semeru Volcano peak, especially along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat, as well as the potential for lahar in small rivers which are tributaries of Besuk Kobokan.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Lumajang Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Isnugroho, said that officers always monitored the activities of Mount Semeru, both from PPGA Semeru officers and through CCTV.

"The conditions tonight, Mount Semeru erupted accompanied by incandescent lava from the peak of the Jonggring Saloko crater to 3/4 of the height of Mount Semeru 3,676 meters above sea level," he said.

He appealed to the public to remain vigilant and comply with all recommendations from officers in line with the status of Mount Semeru which is still on alert.