Lumajang Regency: Viral Mount Semeru Eruption Video is Hoax

Authorities in Lumajang Regency, Indonesia, have debunked a viral video circulating on social media that falsely claimed to show a recent eruption of Mount Semeru. The video, posted on YouTube, was found to be misleading, despite the volcano being active.

Isnugroho, the Head of the Lumajang Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), urged the public not to believe or spread unverified disaster information to prevent unnecessary panic. He stated that the agency's verification confirmed the video's narrative did not align with official data from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).

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We ensure the circulating video is a hoax. The public should not easily believe it, let alone spread it before confirming its truth.

While Mount Semeru did experience eruptions on July 3 and July 4, 2026, with ash columns reaching up to 700 and 1,400 meters respectively, the viral video's accompanying narration was inconsistent with these official reports. The agency cross-referenced the video's claims with data from the MAGMA Indonesia system to reach its conclusion.

Mount Semeru currently remains at Level III (Siaga) alert status. Residents are advised to avoid the Besuk Kobokan area within 13 kilometers of the summit and maintain a five-kilometer radius from the crater. The BPBD emphasized the importance of checking facts with official sources like PVMBG and the Lumajang Regency government to counter misinformation and ensure accurate communication during potential disaster events.

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The results of the cross-matching show that the narrative accompanying the video does not match the official activity data of Mount Semeru, so the content is confirmed to be misleading information or a hoax.