TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Center for Research and Development of Geological Disaster Technology (BPPTKG) in Yogyakarta reported an uptick in volcanic activity at Mount Merapi on Monday, March 9, 2026. The volcano, situated on the border of Yogyakarta and Central Java, unleashed at least two series of pyroclastic flows directed toward the southwest sector.
"The first pyroclastic flow occurred at 03:06 a.m. with a glide distance of up to 1,700 meters toward the upstream of Kali Boyong. The second event followed at 10:37 a.m., covering a distance of 1,300 meters toward the upstream of Kali Krasak," BPPTKG head Agus Budi Santoso stated on Monday. Today’s activity is a continuation of a volcanic trend observed since late February.
Prior to today’s sharp increase, the activity report for the period of February 27 to March 5, 2026, indicated seismic intensity that was actually lower than the previous week.
During that period, monitors recorded one pyroclastic flow earthquake, five shallow volcanic earthquakes, 451 multiphase earthquakes, and 809 avalanche earthquakes. Despite this relative decrease in seismicity, deformation monitoring revealed a daily shortening of the mountain body distance by 0.5 cm, signaling internal pressure.
Visually, slight morphological changes were observed in the southwest lava dome between late February and early March due to intense avalanche activity. Based on aerial photo analysis from February 20, 2026, the volume of the southwest lava dome was recorded at 4,044,000 cubic meters, while the central dome remained stable at 2,368,800 cubic meters.
During that same week, lava avalanches were predominantly directed toward the Kali Sat/Putih upstream 50 times, reaching a maximum glide distance of 2,000 meters.
Agus confirmed that the status of the 2,968-meter volcano remains at Level III, or "Siaga." He noted that during this intense rainy season, a continuous magma supply remains the primary trigger for pyroclastic flows within potential hazard zones.
"Mount Merapi's volcanic activity is still quite high in the form of effusive eruption activity; thus, the status remains at the Alert level," he said.
In addition to the threat of hot materials, the public is advised to remain vigilant against secondary hazards such as cold lava flows (lahars). On March 3, 2026, heavy rain reached intensities of 31.19 mm/hour at the Pasarbubar Station for over four hours. This downpour triggered increased flow and lahars in several rivers originating from Merapi, including Kali Gendol, Woro, Senowo, Trising, Apu, and Pabelan.
Read: Cold Lava Floods Sweep Mount Merapi, Killing 3 Sand Miners
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