Semeru

December 4, 2021 Eruption of Semeru

December 4, 2021 · VEI 4 · 45 deaths · $20 million · 2,970 houses destroyed

Semeru in Indonesia erupted on December 4, 2021 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 4. The eruption killed 45 people, counting its secondary effects.

Where it erupted

Semeru, Indonesia, with its other significant eruptions.

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The eruption

Date
December 4, 2021
Volcano
Semeru, stratovolcano
Country
Indonesia
Volcanic Explosivity Index
4, large (eruption column 10 to 25 km)
Killed by
Tephra (ash, bombs, lapilli, steam blasts)
Location
8.108° S, 112.922° E

The toll

Deaths
51; 45 with the tsunamis, mudflows and other effects it caused
Missing
9
Injuries
169
Damage
$20 million
Houses destroyed
2,970

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.

Dec 21: Based on data from the Emergency Response Command Post (Posko) for Mount Semeru's eruption as of December 21, 2021, the death toll increased by 1, bringing the total death toll from the eruption to 51 people. (reference #13243)

Dec 11: 45 deaths, 9 missing. (reference #13097)

Dec 7: 34 deaths, 17 missing, and 169 injured. (reference #13096)

Dec 6: According to the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB), the number of fatalities has increased to 15 and 27 people are missing, and 169 have been injured. Temporary data mentions 2,970 affected houses, 38 directly affected educational facilities, 1 broken bridge (Gladak Perak which is located in Curah Kobokan Village, the link between Lumajang and Malang). (reference #13091)

Other significant eruptions of Semeru

More

Every eruption in 2021The 2000sSemeruEarthquakes 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 7550.