Mount Semeru Erupts: Indonesia Volcano Spews Ash 13km Into Sky Forcing Mass Evacuation

Nov 19, 2025 11:01 pm CST

Indonesia's Mount Semeru volcano on Java island erupted violently on Wednesday, sending ash and gas 13 kilometers skyward and forcing authorities to evacuate 300 nearby villagers. Officials have raised the alert to its highest level and warned people to avoid activities within an 8-kilometer radius of the crater due to dangerous pyroclastic flows. Indonesia, situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," houses nearly 130 active volcanoes, with Semeru's previous 2021 eruption having claimed over 50 lives.