Mysterious Fires Linked to Potential Methane Gas Leaks in Sleman
The mysterious fire terror affecting the home of Muftiana, a resident of Kasuran Mriyan X, Seyegan, Sleman, shows no signs of ending. Prof. Basuki Rahmad, Dean of FTME UPN ‘Veteran’ Yogyakarta, stated that his team received reports from residents regarding a natural bamboo grove fire that occurred near Fia’s house approximately one year ago.
Fia’s father, Agus, noted that a fire also broke out north of their home last Monday (1/6), specifically in the backyard of the shop where the family had sought refuge. “The fire spread to the side. The fuel was not cloth or fabric, but wood. The wood caught fire,” Agus told reporters at his home on Tuesday (2/6/2026).
Agus explained that the incident occurred on Monday evening after Maghrib. In addition to burning plywood, the mysterious fire consumed a pile of wood in the backyard. Agus recorded that a total of 81 consecutive fires have occurred at different locations since Saturday (23/5).
“There have been 81 instances, at random times and in different places. Some single points have been hit three times,” he said.
Experts from the university are continuing their investigation to determine the cause of these recurring fires. Yesterday, a team from UPN ‘Veteran’ Yogyakarta conducted further inspections at the site.
Prof. Basuki Rahmad suggested that the discovery of burnt plywood outside the house strengthens the suspicion that methane gas is escaping from beneath the earth’s surface. “The findings strongly support the suspicion that there is methane gas beneath the surface, which is continuously escaping into the air,” Basuki stated at the location.
He explained that methane gas tends to adhere to water molecules and is often found in humid areas. The findings will be followed up by the UPN Jogja Geophysics team, who will map the underground rock layers suspected of carrying the methane gas.
Previously, Basuki and his team found indications that the gas source might be located in a river area approximately 300 metres from the house. At that location, dark rock outcrops were found with puddles of water emitting gas bubbles.
“We need to determine if the siltstone spreads to the house. Therefore, we will use geophysical recordings. The Geophysics team from UPN Veteran will begin work tomorrow morning to validate this,” he said.
Basuki also received information from residents regarding a natural bamboo fire about a year ago near Muftiana’s house, as well as a fire in a ditch approximately four months ago. Residents also reported that an attempt to deepen a well was abandoned after a strong smell of gas was detected during excavation.
“This data is crucial for us to localise the area. We will use geophysical recordings to map the extent and direction of the gas-bearing rock layers,” Basuki concluded.