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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Disasters & Emergencies

Mount Merapi erupts twice on Islamic New Year, alert status remains

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Mount Merapi in Indonesia erupted twice on June 16, 2026, spewing hot ash clouds towards the Kali Sat river.
  • The volcano's alert status remains at Level III (Alert) due to ongoing magma supply, with potential for further eruptions.
  • Authorities warned residents to stay clear of the potential danger zones, especially along river sectors prone to lava avalanches and hot ash clouds.

Mount Merapi, straddling the border of Yogyakarta and Central Java, experienced heightened volcanic activity on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, coinciding with the Islamic New Year. The volcano, standing at 2,968 meters, produced two hot ash cloud eruptions within hours.

The magma supply is still ongoing and can trigger hot ash cloud eruptions in the potential danger zone.

— Agus Budi SantosoThe Head of the Center for Geological Disaster Research and Technology Development (BPPTKG) explained the increased volcanic activity at Mount Merapi.

The first eruption occurred at 08:55 WIB, sending an ash cloud 2,000 meters towards the Kali Sat river. The second followed at 19:10 WIB, also traveling 2,000 meters westwards. The Center for Geological Disaster Research and Technology Development (BPPTKG) reported a maximum amplitude of 21 millimeters for the first and 49.86 millimeters for the second, lasting nearly five minutes and over two minutes, respectively.

BPPTKG Head Agus Budi Santoso stated that the increased activity signifies a continuous supply of volcanic material from the mountain's interior, warning of potential hot ash cloud eruptions within the danger zone. Mount Merapi remains at Level III - Alert. In addition to ash clouds, nine glowing lava avalanches were observed moving southwest, reaching up to 1,900 meters.

The current potential threats are in the form of lava avalanches and hot ash clouds in the south-southwest sector covering Boyong River up to a maximum of five kilometers, Bedog River, Krasak, and Bebeng up to seven kilometers maximum.

— Agus Budi SantosoAgus detailed the river sectors potentially affected by lava avalanches and hot ash clouds from Mount Merapi.

Authorities have designated specific danger zones, with the southern to southwest sectors posing the greatest threat. These areas, including the Boyong, Bedog, Krasak, and Bebeng river sectors, could be affected by lava avalanches and hot ash clouds up to seven kilometers. The southeast sector, covering the Woro and Gendol rivers, has a threat range of up to five kilometers. Cold lava floods, exacerbated by recent heavy rainfall, also remain a concern, prompting reminders for residents to avoid river channels and potential danger zones.

People should refrain from any activities in the potential danger zone.

— Agus Budi SantosoAgus reminded residents to be aware of environmental changes and avoid potential danger zones due to Mount Merapi's activity and weather conditions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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