Hiking activity on Mount Merapi has once again come under public spotlight after video footage showing crowds of hikers on the Selo route in Boyolali went viral on social media. This phenomenon has sparked deep concern from the Mount Merapi National Park Authority (BTNGM), considering that the active volcano's status is currently at Level III (Alert).
Head of BTNGM, Heri Wibowo, expressed disappointment over the public's tendency to ignore various official warnings. According to him, appeals issued by the National Park Authority, the Governor of DIY (Sultan), and the Head of BNPB regarding the hiking ban seem to have gone unheeded by independent hikers.
Heri explained that his team continues to make persuasive, low-profile approaches to local residents to halt illegal hiking access. Although BTNGM has the option to involve the military (TNI) and police (Polri) to physically guard the hiking trails, he emphasized that such a move carries a high risk of triggering horizontal conflicts with the community, which could create new problems.
The closure of Mount Merapi's hiking trails has been in effect since 2018 following increased volcanic activity. This regulation was further reinforced in November 2020 when Merapi's status was raised to Alert (Siaga). Under this decree, recreational hiking is strictly prohibited and is only allowed for disaster mitigation or scientific research purposes.
To date, resort officers in Selo remain stationed in the field to continuously educate the public. Nevertheless, challenges on the ground remain severe given the high enthusiasm among hikers who frequently ignore safety and rationality to conquer Merapi's peak amid the ongoing eruption threat.
