Mount Merapi

 

Mount Merapi is a steep stratovolcano located north of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia, erupting on average every five to ten years. Merapi is also feared for its deadly pyroclastic flows.

Location: Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Coordinates: 7.540085, 110.445753
Volcano Type: Stratovolcano

 

Mount Merapi’s Location

 

Mount Merapi’s Latest Status

2024: Regular incandescent rockfall continues, sometimes producing minor pyroclastic flows. Merapi’s lava domes continue to grow.

 

Mount Merapi’s Eruptive History

8780 BCE Oldest radiocarbon dated eruption
1969 Dome collapse and pyroclastic flows down the SW-flank valleys.
1984 June – eruption with significant pyroclastic flows reaching 7km. Ashfalls reports in Magelang and Salatiga.
1992 Increased seismicity, incandescent rock falls, growing lava dome and pyroclastic flows.
1994 Pyroclastic flows related to a dome-collapse kill 41 people on the SSW flank.
1996 Vigorous plumes reaching 4000m and pyroclastic flows. 5000 people evacuated.
2001 Collapse of the lava dome causes major eruption with ash rising to 2000m and ashfalls to 20km. Pyroclastic flows sweep down the W flanks.
2011 October – Major eruption prompting the evacuation of 300,000. 386 total deaths. Ash plume rising to 40,000m. Steaming lahars descended Merapi’s flanks.
2018 Phreatic eruptions with ash rising to 5,500 meters.
2020 March – Ongoing eruptions rising to 5000 meters. There have been 13 eruptions since September 2019
2022 Extreme Pursuit field visit – Two (growing) lava domes observed. Regular incandescent rockfall.
2023 March 2023: After many months of lava dome growth, a massive eruption occurred on March 11, 2023. This led to a series of large pyroclastic flows.
2024 Regular incandescent rockfall continues, sometimes producing minor pyroclastic flows. Merapi’s lava domes continue to grow.

 

Mount Merapi Monitoring

For monitoring of Indonesian Volcanoes, please refer to PVMBG.

 

Mount Merapi Images