Three Mount Merapi Hikers’ Flight from Officials Comes to an End

Fourteen people were caught attempting to climb Mount Merapi via Klakah village, Selo district, Boyolali regency, Central Java. Three of them initially fled to avoid officials, but were eventually found on Sunday.

“The search for the three other illegal hikers was carried out by members of the forest ranger partner community and residents of Klakah village. On Sunday (1 November), the three were found and then taken to their respective homes,” said Heri Wibowo, head of the Mount Merapi National Park Agency (BTNGM), as quoted by detikJateng on Sunday night (1 November 2026).

Heri said officials initially detained 11 people on Saturday afternoon (31 October). After being questioned at the post, the 11 were sent home. The other three had fled via a different route.

“There were three who were afraid to come down. They avoided the officials, and we waited until this morning. It turned out they came down by another route,” Heri told reporters on Sunday (1 November 2026).

“There were 14 in total, and 11 were successfully brought to the post yesterday. The local community then took them home because they were unwell or sick, but the officers had already recorded their identities so the matter can subsequently be followed up at their addresses,” he added.

Heri said the group’s attempt was discovered by officials during a patrol on Saturday (31 October). The 14 young people had set out on their illegal hike that afternoon. After detaining them, officials seized the phones and identity documents of the 11 hikers.

“They will be summoned again to the Mount Merapi National Park Agency. They are usually scheduled for further questioning there, to find out how they managed to climb, whether a travel operator brought them, and so on,” he said.

Heri said the agency was prioritising a persuasive approach to sanctions. The hikers would receive guidance, as this was reportedly their first offence.

They would nevertheless face penalties, with the agency opting for community sanctions.

“For now, because they are young, our efforts to raise awareness are still being handled through a persuasive process. When people are caught, we usually hold on to their phones and identity documents,” Heri said.

“This usually lasts three months, during which they have to serve their penalty or sanction by cleaning areas in the Mount Merapi National Park tourist zone. Some are required to do it 12 times, others 16, depending on what the officers decide. They go out to clean three times a week,” he added.

Heri expressed regret that illegal climbs of Mount Merapi continue to take place. Hiking has been prohibited since 2018, as the volcano remains at Alert Level III.

“In 2026, there may have been nearly 100 illegal hikers by now. We never stop issuing appeals, and our media clearly state that hiking remains prohibited because the alert level is still at III. In terms of danger, it is extremely dangerous,” Heri stressed.

“We urge people not to hike for the time being. Although it has been a long time—from 2018 to 2026, eight years—the natural conditions mean people should postpone or avoid hiking. Safety must come first for everyone,” he concluded.

Joined an Illegal Organised Trek

According to detikJateng, the 14 people were caught hiking Mount Merapi via Klakah village, Selo district, Boyolali. They said they had joined an illegal organised trek.

“The Mount Merapi National Park Agency’s Selo regional unit detained a group of illegal hikers who climbed Mount Merapi through Klakah village, Selo district,” Heri said in a written statement received by detikJateng on Sunday night (1 November 2026).

Eleven people were caught on Saturday (31 October), and the other three on Sunday (1 November). Heri said the illegal hike was detected after residents of Klakah village promptly reported suspicious activity by a group of people in the area.

After receiving the information, Mount Merapi National Park officials coordinated with village officials, the forest ranger partner community and local residents to take the necessary action.

“On Saturday (31 October), the Mount Merapi National Park Agency’s Selo regional unit detained a group of 11 illegal hikers who had climbed Mount Merapi via Klakah village, Selo district,” he said.

A joint team caught them at about 5.47pm on Saturday (31 October), as they were heading down to the vehicle parking area. Further inquiries revealed that there were 14 illegal hikers in total.

“It was discovered that three members of the group had become separated and their whereabouts were unknown,” he added.

After their arrest, the 11 illegal hikers were taken to the Selo regional unit office and evidence was secured. They then received guidance alongside the Selo police and military command until the early hours of Sunday.

“The search for the other three illegal hikers was carried out by members of the forest ranger partner community and residents of Klakah village. On Sunday (1 November), the three were found and then taken to their respective homes,” Heri said.

He added that questioning found the hikers had connected with one another through social media accounts.

“They joined an illegal organised trek up Mount Merapi,” he said.

Heri said the 14 illegal hikers were AAF (from Sragen), SBP (Bantul), MID (Boyolali), NKS (Grobogan), AFP (Sleman), AHAR (Boyolali), KDP (Bantul), FFA (Temanggung), T (Kalimantan), FA (Boyolali) and FSP (Boyolali). The three separated hikers who were found by residents were U (Yogyakarta), F (Solo) and a woman from Magelang.

“The people involved in the illegal hike were aged between 15 and 46,” he said.

Heri stressed that the hikers had been detained because climbing Mount Merapi remains prohibited, given that the volcano is at Level III (Alert).

Asked about sanctions for the 14 illegal hikers, Heri said they would first be summoned and questioned at the BTNGM office. They are expected to be called in next week.