Merapi Slope Fire Caused by Lava Fall

Mount Merapi showed eruptive activity on Friday evening (28/8). Forest on the mountain’s slopes also caught fire.

Footage of the burning forest on Merapi’s slopes circulated on social media, including a post from the Instagram account @febri.vpv. The post showed flames blazing around forested areas on the mountain’s slopes.

“The Merapi slope forest has been burning from dark until light and is still burning. Hopefully it does not spread and is extinguished quickly. The fire is on the western side of the Merapi slope at Cenggerpas,” the account wrote, as seen by detikJogja on Saturday (29/8/2026).

Head of the Mount Merapi National Park Office (TNGM), Tutut Heri Wibowo, confirmed the incident when contacted by journalists. He said the flames were still visible until Saturday morning.

“Last night and this morning (the fire was still visible),” Tutut said when contacted on Saturday (29/8/2026).

Tutut added that, based on video monitoring, the fire occurred at the Jurangjero point.

“Monitoring results from colleagues at the Srumbung forest and land fire post are safe. There was smoke this morning, but it came from hot lava falls. Approaching it would also endanger officers. Officers are still monitoring the situation,” he explained.

Head of the Yogyakarta Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Centre (BPPTKG), Agus Budi Santoso, said the flames burned vegetation. Fortunately, the fire did not spread and was able to extinguish itself.

“Correct (it burned vegetation). Approximately 100 square metres at most,” he told detikJogja.

Agus confirmed there was no impact on communities or settlements from the incident. Mount Merapi’s status also remains at Level III alert.

“No (impact). It remains on alert because there is still eruption, but it has not reached settlements,” he concluded.