**Breaking: Mount Semeru Erupts Fiercely in East Java, Indonesia**
JAKARTA, Indonesia – Mount Semeru, Indonesia’s tallest peak, erupted forcefully on Monday, April 13, 2026, sending ash columns soaring up to 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above its summit. The eruption occurred at 9:23 AM local time, with several other eruptions recorded earlier in the morning, according to the Mount Semeru Observation Post.
The volcano, located on the border of Lumajang and Malang regencies in East Java, released white to gray ash that drifted west and northwest. Authorities have issued warnings, prohibiting activities within 13 kilometers (8 miles) southeast of the summit along the Besuk Kobokan drainage channel and within 500 meters (1,640 feet) of riverbanks due to the risk of pyroclastic flows and lahars. A 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) radius around the crater is also off-limits due to the danger of ejected volcanic material.
Mount Semeru remains at Alert Level III, prompting the Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) to impose restrictions on public activity. Heightened activity was also noted on Saturday, April 11, with 11 eruptions recorded and ash columns ranging from 600 to 1,500 meters (1,968 to 4,921 feet) above the summit.
Mount Semeru, revered in Indonesian mythology as “The Great Mountain,” has been in a near-constant state of eruption since 1967. Its activity is notorious for sending ash plumes high into the atmosphere, occasionally disrupting air travel and affecting nearby communities.
The PVMBG has urged communities to remain vigilant for hazards including hot clouds, lava avalanches, and lahar flows along rivers originating from the volcano, particularly in Besuk Kobokan and its tributaries.
**What’s Next:**
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation closely. Further eruptions and ash dispersal are possible, and the public is advised to adhere strictly to exclusion zone regulations. Information regarding potential impacts on air travel and local communities will be updated as developments occur.
**Meta Description:** Breaking: Mount Semeru erupts in East Java, Indonesia, spewing ash columns. Evacuations and exclusion zones in effect due to pyroclastic flow risks.
**Keywords:** Mount Semeru eruption, East Java volcano, Indonesia volcanic activity, pyroclastic flows, ash clouds, PVMBG alert level.
