Published: 16 December 2022 (updated 17th December at 16:19 local time)

Activity of the Volcano:

On the 4th December 2022, exactly 1 year after the deadly 2021 pyroclastic flows and Lahar at Semeru, where at least 50 people lost their lives and more than 2000 houses were destroyed, another series of Pyroclastic flows occurred. The pyroclastic flows of 4th December 2022 reached as far as 11km to the South, according to BNPB – Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency. The alert level of Semeru was briefly raised to the highest level (Level 4) following the 4th December event, but was decreased to level 3 again on the 9th December 2022.

I visited the regency of Lumajang during the 10-12th December to observe the volcanic activity. During the visit only weak-medium strong eruptive activity was observed, only one eruption plume was accompanied by a small pyroclastic flow that descended a few hundred meters below the summit crater on the 10th December (see photo no 3.). Lava avalanches (rockfall) were frequently observed from the crater and the lava flow situated directly in front of the crater. At night the lava avalanches were Incandescent. Eruption plumes, white to grey in appearance, typically occurred every 15-20 minutes, sometimes accompanied by noise that could be heard from our base 10km away from the summit.

Photo figure no 1. is a comparison between the crater area of 21th December 2021 vs 12th December 2022. Looking at the 12th December 2022 photo it is apparent that a big part of a relatively large wall, behind the active crater, that is visible in the 21th December 2021 photo, has vanished. It may be that this wall collapsed during the latest activity at Semeru in December 2022.

Important Note:

This is my personal notes, and should not be considered as official information regarding the volcano or its activity. For updated information and official statements on the volcanic activity of Krakatau Volcano, visit the Indonesian authorities website MAGMA Indonesia. and Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation`(PVMBG) and BMKG – Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics. On Twitter (@id_magma , @vulkanologi_mbg and @infoBMKG)

Semeru volcano is at Alert Level 3 (Siaga) as of the 16 December 2022.

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