Merapi climbing routes remain closed amid ongoing volcanic alert

The Balai Taman Nasional Gunung Merapi (BTNGM) reaffirmed that all official climbing routes to the summit of Mount Merapi stay closed indefinitely. The closure, in place since May 2018, is maintained because the volcano remains at Level III (Alert) with persistent effusive eruptions, magma supply, and the risk of lava flows, hot clouds and rock debris reaching several kilometres from the crater.

Social‑media posts claiming that the trails had been reopened were dismissed as false. BTNGM head Heri Wibowo stressed that public safety is the priority and that hiking is only permitted for research or disaster‑mitigation work. He urged residents and visitors to rely on official updates from BTNGM and the geological agency BPPTKG, noting that the danger zones extend up to 5‑7 km in several river valleys around the volcano.

The agency also reminded the public that, while the climbing paths are closed, nearby viewpoints such as the Kalitalang nature tourism site remain safe for observing the mountain.