In News:

Indonesia’s Semeru Volcano on Java Island erupted recently, ejecting massive ash and gas plumes up to ~13 km into the atmosphere, triggering the highest alert level, evacuations of nearby villagers, and safety advisories restricting activity around the crater.

About Semeru Volcano

• Location: East Java, Indonesia; ~310 km west of Bali
• Elevation: ~3,676 m (12,060 ft) -highest peak on Java
• Tectonic Setting: Part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone of intense volcanic and seismic activity due to plate convergence
• Volcanic System: Lies at the southern end of a volcanic massif extending north to the Tengger caldera
• Summit Morphology: Complex, with crater positions having shifted NW–SE over time
• Local Name:Mahameru

Eruptive Characteristics

• Among Indonesia’s most active volcanoes
• Known for frequent ash explosions at short intervals (often every 10–30 minutes)
• Recent eruption involved pyroclastic flows (hot mixtures of gas, ash, and volcanic fragments)
• Seismicity: Elevated before and during eruptive phases

Recent Eruption – Key Facts

• Ash Plume Height: Up to ~13 km
• Alert & Safety: Highest alert declared; 8 km exclusion zone around the crater advised
• Human Impact: Preventive evacuations (hundreds relocated to temporary shelters); no immediate casualties reported
• Aviation: Monitoring in place; Bali airport operations initially unaffected