Mount Semeru Eruption in a Row, Hot Clouds Launched up to 3.5 Km

The eruption of Mount Semeru was accompanied by a hot cloud eruption with a glide distance of 3.5 km on Sunday (5/4/2026) ANTARA/HO-PVMBG

MALANG - Mount Semeru, located on the border of Lumajang and Malang Regencies, East Java, has again shown high volcanic activity with a series of eruptions on Sunday morning. One of the eruptions was even accompanied by a hot cloud that slid as far as 3.5 kilometers from the peak.

The Mount Semeru Observation Post officer, Yadi Yuliandi, reported that the first eruption occurred at 02.02 WIB with an ash column reaching about 1,000 meters above the peak or 4,676 meters above sea level.

"The observed ash column is gray with a thick intensity leaning to the west. The eruption was also recorded on the seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 22 mm and a duration of about 3 minutes 29 seconds," he explained.

He added that the eruption was accompanied by a hot cloud with a glide distance of 3.5 kilometers from the center of the eruption.

Volcanic activity continued at 06.55 WIB with an eruption column height of about 800 meters above the peak. Volcanic ash appeared white to gray with a spread direction to the southwest and west.

Not long after, at 07.02 WIB, an eruption occurred again with a column of ash height of about 600 meters. The next eruption was recorded at 07.53 WIB with a column height of 800 meters, while the eruption at 08.50 WIB could not be observed visually because it was covered by fog.

Currently, the status of Mount Semeru's activity is still at Level III or Alert. The public is also asked not to carry out activities in the southeast sector, especially along the Besuk Kobokan stream to a radius of 13 kilometers from the peak.

"Outside this radius, the public is also urged not to carry out activities within 500 meters from the river banks along Besuk Kobokan because of the potential for the expansion of hot clouds and lava flows that can reach up to 17 kilometers," said Yadi.

In addition, residents are also asked to stay away from areas within a radius of 5 kilometers from the crater because they are at risk of being hit by incandescent material.

Yadi also reminded of other potential dangers such as hot clouds, lava discharge, and lava flows that can follow the river and valley paths upstream of the summit of Semeru, especially in the Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat areas.

"The public must increase vigilance against potential dangers along the river flow upstream from the peak of Semeru," he concluded.