Sultan HB X Urges Hikers Not to Recklessly Climb Mount Merapi Amid Alert Status

Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X has urged tourists and visitors not to recklessly climb Mount Merapi, which remains at Level III or Alert status. According to the Sultan, safety must be the priority given that Merapi’s volcanic activity still has the potential to endanger climbers. “My hope for tourists, and for visitors, meaning those who indeed want to travel, I ask that they please do not go up Mount Merapi,” he said on Thursday (2/7/2026). The Sultan assessed that communities living on Merapi’s slopes generally already understand the characteristics of the volcano, including knowing the boundaries of safe areas. Therefore, local residents are considered to have a better understanding of field conditions compared to tourists. However, this situation differs for tourists from outside the region who may not necessarily know about the developments in Merapi’s activity. “Residents around Merapi understand and they do not want to descend, because the flow from above only travels two to two and a half kilometres and does not reach settlements, and they already know this,” he said. “But visitors who do not, who just want to go on vacation or a holiday, may not know if there is activity at Merapi. Be careful, for now just do not climb, that is all,” he added. The Sultan also emphasised that information regarding the current condition of Mount Merapi is entirely under the authority of the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Centre (BPPTKG). He noted that communities on Merapi’s slopes have long understood that the threat from the volcano’s activity remains in the upper areas and has not reached residential zones.