Strong eruption at Raung volcano sends ash plumes to 8 km (26 000 feet) a.s.l., Indonesia
A strong eruption at Raung volcano in East Java, Indonesia sent ash plumes as high as 8 km (26 000 feet) a.s.l. on Tuesday, December 24, 2024. Authorities advised maintaining a 3 km (1.9 miles) exclusion zone around the summit.
Raung volcano eruption on December 24, 2024. Image credit: FPMKI
The latest advisory from the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) at 07:05 UTC confirmed ash emissions from Raung volcano reaching an altitude of 8 km (26 000 feet) above sea level (a.s.l.).
The ash cloud was observed moving north-northwest at 9 km/h (6 mph). Satellite imagery, reports from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM)/Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi (PVMBG), and pilots identified the ash plume despite limited visibility caused by weather conditions.
The Aviation Color Code is maintained at Orange.
Authorities advised maintaining a 3 km (1.9 miles) exclusion zone around the summit. Aviation stakeholders are urged to take precautions for potential disruptions.
An earlier advisory at 03:12 UTC on December 24 reported ash plumes reaching an altitude of 7 km (23 000 feet) and moving northeast at 18 km/h (11 mph). The emissions were described as medium-dense and indicative of continued volcanic activity.
Raung’s eruption intensified between December 15 and 19, prompting the PVMBG/CVGHM to issue alerts. On December 15, ash plumes were observed rising 500 m (1 640 feet) above the summit, accompanied by volcanic tremors.
The Aviation Color Code was raised to Yellow. Ash plumes dissipated on December 16 as confirmed by satellite observations.
Raung volcano, standing at 3 260 m (11 000 feet) a.s.l, is one of Java’s most active stratovolcanoes. It features a 2 km wide (1.2 miles) caldera that frequently produces eruptions. Raung, located within the Sunda Volcanic Arc, is surrounded by a population of over 8.1 million people within a 100 km (62 miles) radius, with nearly 582 000 residing within 30 km (19 miles) of the summit.
Raung has a long history of eruptions, with 69 confirmed events in the Holocene. Recent activity includes eruptions in 2022 and 2020, characterized by Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) levels of 2 and 1.
References:
1 Raung 263340 – Darwin VAAC – December 24, 2024
2 Raung – GVP – Accessed on December 24, 2024
Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.
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