The Indonesian volcano Semeru, Mount Ruang on remote Tagaulandang island in Indonesia has erupted, causing significant disruption to flight operations in the region.
The Darwin VAAC (Volcanic Ash Advisory Center), responsible for monitoring volcanoes in the southern Asian region, has issued an ash advisory coding the latest eruption as orange – moderate impact for aviation. The primary eruption resulted in an ash cloud rising to approximately 5km, however due to meteorological cloud in the area, satellite imagery is currently unable to determine the level of volcanic ash in the region.
FVAU02 ADRM 011400
VA ADVISORY
DTG: 20240501/1400Z
VAAC: DARWIN
VOLCANO: SEMERU 263300
PSN: S0806 E11255
AREA: INDONESIA
SUMMIT ELEV: 3657M
ADVISORY NR: 2024/378
INFO SOURCE: HIMAWARI-9, CVGHM
AVIATION COLOUR CODE: ORANGE
ERUPTION DETAILS: DISCRETE VA TO FL140 LAST OBS AT 01/0110Z
EST VA DTG: 01/1340Z
EST VA CLD: SFC/FL140 S0808 E11256 - S0812 E11242 - S0806
E11237 - S0758 E11242 - S0804 E11256 MOV W 10KT
FCST VA CLD +6 HR: 01/1940Z SFC/FL140 S0805 E11257 - S0808
E11256 - S0812 E11241 - S0805 E11235 - S0757 E11243
FCST VA CLD +12 HR: 02/0140Z SFC/FL140 S0805 E11257 - S0809
E11256 - S0813 E11241 - S0804 E11235 - S0757 E11244
FCST VA CLD +18 HR: 02/0740Z SFC/FL140 S0808 E11256 - S0811
E11241 - S0804 E11236 - S0757 E11244 - S0805 E11257
RMK: VA NOT INDENTIFIABLE ON SAT IMG DUE OBSCURATION BY MET CLOUD. DISCRETE ERUPTIONS EXPECTED TO BE ONGOING SUPPORTED BY CVGHM VONA AT 01/1145Z. HEIGHT AND FCST BASED ON HIMAWARI-9 AND MODEL GUIDANCE.
NXT ADVISORY: NO LATER THAN 20240501/2000Z=
Reports suggest seven airports have been closed including Sam Ratulangi airport, Manado WAMM/MDC, which is a primary airport of entry to Indonesia, and Jalaluddin airport, Gorontalo WAMG/GTO, which acts as a primary gateway to Northern Indonesia. Ash fall in the vicinity of airports can reduce visibility below operational levels.
Volcanic ash also poses a threat to aircraft, particularly the engines, and is generally not visible once dispersed into the atmosphere. Eruptions which reach significant altitudes may disrupt overflight traffic as well. There are some international airways in this region including M768 which links Vietnam, via Indonesia, to Australia.
Flightradar24 tracking currently shows few aircraft in the area, with limited traffic operating into the western parts of Sulawesi island. You can monitor current volcanic eruptions and forecast ash cloud movement on Flightradar24 by selecting Weather in the settings menu and enabling Volcanic eruption.
