Indonesia has raised the alert for Mount Semeru to highest level status on the country’s volcanic danger scale, after a powerful eruption sent towering plumes of ash over East Java and prompted urgent evacuations across nearby communities.
The eruption, which began on November 19, propelled a dense column of ash and smoke into the sky, accompanied by fast-moving pyroclastic flows and billowing clouds of hot volcanic material. The sudden escalation in activity led Indonesia’s volcanology agency, PVMBG, to elevate Semeru’s alert level as scientists warned of continued instability around the crater.
Authorities quickly moved to evacuate residents living within an 7-kilometer radius of the peak – an area defined as a high-danger zone. Several villages in Lumajang and Malang districts have already been cleared, with dozens of families transported to temporary shelters away from potential lava and ash hazards.
The eruption also stranded 170 climbers on the mountain as visibility dropped and ashfall intensified. Emergency teams launched a rapid rescue operation, successfully bringing all climbers to safety by late evening, according to local officials.
Ashfall has been reported across multiple communities, coating homes, crops, and vehicles in a thick layer of grey dust. Aviation authorities have issued warnings to pilots, urging aircraft to avoid airspace surrounding the volcano due to reduced visibility and potential engine hazards caused by volcanic ash.
Mount Semeru, often called “The Great Mountain,” is the tallest volcano on the island of Java and among the most active in Indonesia. Its last major eruption occurred in December 2021, resulting in significant destruction and the loss of dozens of lives – a tragedy still remembered by residents living in its shadow.
In an official statement, the PVMBG urged the public to remain vigilant:
“The public is urged not to carry out any activities within an 8-kilometer radius of the peak of Mount Semeru and to be aware of the potential for hot ash clouds and lava flows.”
As of now, eruptive activity continues, and monitoring teams remain stationed near the volcano to track seismic movements and any signs of further escalation. Local officials say evacuation centers will remain open as long as needed to ensure residents remain out of harm’s way.
Mount Semeru’s renewed activity serves as another reminder of Indonesia’s position along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where powerful geological forces routinely shape the landscape – and the lives of those who call it home.
