On 13 December 2023, Mount Merapi in Yogyakarta experienced an eruption, releasing lava 17 times towards the Bebeng River. Yulianto, an officer at the Mount Merapi Observation Post, reported that the lava flowed up to 1,700 meters from the crater’s top.
Mount Merapi spans several areas across Yogyakarta and Central Java, including Mageang, Klaten, Boyolali, and Sleman. The Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) registered 109 seismic avalanches, measuring 2-23 millimetres in amplitude and lasting between 19.48 and 197.64 seconds.
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From 12 PM to 6 AM local time on 14 December 2023, 14 lava avalanches were recorded, covering a distance of 1,600 meters. Additionally, 34 earthquake avalanches were also noted. As of now, the Geological Disaster Technology Development Research Center (BPPTKG) continues to classify Merapi at level 3 (Watch).
In Indonesia, Mount Merapi isn’t the sole volcano currently on alert. There are 18 mountains on alert and two on high alert. Throughout 2023, numerous volcanoes in Indonesia have shown activity surpassing normal levels, indicating the potential for imminent or ongoing eruptions.
Currently, Indonesia categorizes volcanoes into four levels:
- Normal (Level 1 – Green Colour Code): Volcanic activity remains stable without indicating any specific signs of an impending eruption.
- Advisory(Level 2 – Yellow Colour Code): Activity displays an elevated status beyond typical norms, which might revert to normal conditions or escalate further, possibly leading to an eruption.
- Watch (Level 3 – Orange Colour Code): Heightened volcanic activity alongside documented eruptions. Evacuation advisories may be issued as precautionary measures.
- Warning (Level 4 – Red Colour Code): The volcano is advancing into a critical eruption phase, posing significant hazards to nearby regions. Eruption at this level poses severe risks for residents within both the close and distant vicinity.
As of December 2023, the most recent data from MAGMA Indonesia indicates that there are 18 mountains at an advisory level and 3 mountains at a warning level in Indonesia. Here is the detailed breakdown:
18 Volcanoes on Advisory Level Status in Indonesia
- Awu in North Sulawesi
- Banda Api in Maluku
- Bromo in East Java
- Dempo in South Sumatra
- Dukono in North Maluku
- Gamalama in North Maluku
- Mother in North Maluku
- Ili Lewotolok in East Nusa Tenggara
- Inielika in East Nusa Tenggara
- Karangetang in North Sulawesi
- Kerinci in Jambi, West Sumatra
- Lokon in North Sulawesi
- Marapi in West Sumatra
- Rinjani in West Nusa Tenggara
- Sangeangapi in West Nusa Tenggara
- Sinabung in North Sumatra
- Slamet in Central Java
- Soputan in North Sulawesi
3Volcanoes on Watch Level Status in Indonesia
- Anak Krakatau in Lampung
- Mount Merapi on the border of Yogyakarta and Central Java
- Semeru in East Java
In the future, tourists visiting these areas are strongly advised to consistently check for the latest updates on mountain activity, as many of these situations can be unpredictable.
