August 29, 1909 Eruption of Semeru
Semeru in Indonesia erupted on August 29, 1909 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2. The eruption killed 221 people.
Where it erupted
Semeru, Indonesia, with its other significant eruptions.
The eruption
The toll
- Deaths
- 221
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
Major and fatal lahar was not attributed to eruptive activity, although ash and block eruptions and pyroclastic flows caused damage from Sept through Dec. (reference #9675)
This foundation (Semeroe Fund), however, only had the purpose of helping the victims of disasters and not to study volcanic phenomena. It came into being after a catastrophe in the night of 29 to 30 August 1909 caused by mud flows which destroyed c. 8 km2 of arable land with 38 villages, killing 208 persons. These mud flows originated on the slopes of Mt Semeru by long lasting heavy rains. (reference #14075)
Other significant eruptions of Semeru
- December 4, 2022
- December 4, 2021
- 2002
- July 27, 2000
- September 2, 1997
- February 3, 1994
- 1992
- July 30, 1988
- May 10, 1985
- May 14, 1981
- March 29, 1981
- September 19, 1978
- August 31, 1976
- August 31, 1967
- May 5, 1963
- August 28, 1950
- October 29, 1946
- February 1946
- September 21, 1941
- June 23, 1913
- November 8, 1911
- May 22, 1895
- April 18, 1885
- April 1860
More
Every eruption in 1909The 1900sSemeruEarthquakes near SemeruThis day in weather history
Sources
Volcanoes and significant eruptions from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. Volcano numbers are the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program’s. NCEI event 191.