Urgent Updates Issued To Bali Travelers As Mount Semeru Erupts 

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Tourists traveling in Indonesia are being issued with urgent updates as Mount Semeru in East Java erupted twice in the last 24 hours.

Mount Semeru is now on the highest alert warning after erupting huge plumes of volcanic ash 8.5km into the air. 

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, 20th November, Mount Semeru Observation Post Officer, Yadi Yuliandi, confirmed “Mount Semeru’s seismic activity recorded 32 avalanche earthquakes with an amplitude of 3–16 mm and an earthquake duration of 69–108 seconds.”

Mount Semeru is the highest peak on Java Island, and during the 6-hour observation period between 12 am and 6 am on Thursday, 32 avalanche earthquakes were recorded.

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It has also been confirmed that, alongside the avalanche earthquakes, Mount Semeru also experienced 25 eruption earthquakes with amplitudes of 10–22 mm and durations of 71–141 seconds. Yuliandi explained, “Crater smoke was not observed. The weather was cloudy, with light winds blowing to the north, southeast, and south.”

Yulandi concluded, “The public is advised not to engage in any activity in the southeastern sector along Besuk Kobokan, within 20 kilometers of the summit.”

A rescue mission has successfully evacuated 187 climbers and trekking teams from the Mount Semeru hiking trails after the eruptions started. The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS) and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) have confirmed that all climbers are safe. 

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Speaking to reporters, Rudijanta Tjahja Nugraha, Head of the TNBTS Center, said, “Climbers are currently on their way to Ranupani.

Everyone is safe because Ranu Kumbolo is on the north side and the eruption material is moving south-southeast.” He added, “We’ve confirmed that the climbers will descend to the Ranupani Climbing Post today. The weather is quite clear, and hopefully the evacuation process will go smoothly.”

While climbers have been safely evacuated from the volcano, local residents have also had to be evacuated from their homes.

Ali Murtopo, from Sumber Sari Village, told reporters, “The eruption of hot clouds from Mount Semeru caused residents of villages closest to Mount Semeru to run for safe places, and we ordered them to stop sand mining activities. Even residents living in housing complexes built by the government, affected by last year’s eruption, also panicked.”

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In response to the eruptions, the General Manager of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport has confirmed that no flight services have been affected and normal flight scheduling is taking place.

In a written statement, Ahmad Syaugi Shahab explained, “I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport operations are running normally.” He added, “We urge all service users to arrive at the airport early and check their flight schedules with the airline regularly.”

Indonesia sits within the Pacific Ring of Fire and is home to some of the most active volcanoes in the world.

While this week’s eruptions from Mount Semeru have not impacted travel in Bali, it could have just as easily been a very different story.

This week’s volcanic activity in Indonesia is a timely reminder for tourist to check what coverage they are provided by their travel insurance policy in the event of a volcanic eruption or natural disaster. 

For the last year, Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki in the Flores Islands has been erupting on a regular basis, and due to its location and wind direction impacting ash cloud dispersal, dozens of flights in and out of Bali have been affected.

On Monday, 7th July 2025, Indonesia’s MAGMA Agency confirmed that the volcano spewed a mixed cloud of ash, lava, and gas 19km into the air, creating an avalanche and lava flow for 5km down the volcano. 

Tourists traveling by air to Indonesia, or traveling domestically by flight within the country, are always reminded to check in with their airline prior to travel and to keep an eye on updates regarding volcanic activity and natural disasters nationwide throughout their trip. 

Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a red aviation alert, which means that volcanic ash has reached altitudes that could threaten aircraft safety and require flights in the region to be rerouted or delayed.

Though officials in Indonesia have not issued updates regarding predictions of future eruptions from Mount Semeru, given the amount of seismic activity in the last 24 hours, it is not out of the question that there could be more to come.