A hiking tragedy occurred on the Mount Merbabu trail in the Boyolali Regency area on Wednesday (10/6/2026). A man named Widodo (44), a resident of Bandungan District, Semarang Regency, was reported dead while attempting to reach the mountain's peak with his companion.
Boyolali Police Public Relations Head, AKP Winarsih, confirmed the incident. According to official statements, the victim began his journey from the Gancik Selo Basecamp on Wednesday early morning. After resting in the Sabana II area, the victim and his companion continued their trek toward the summit, but along the trail, the victim suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness.
The victim's companion immediately called for help from fellow hikers and a team of volunteers nearby. Although evacuation efforts were promptly carried out and the victim was rushed to Pandan Arang Boyolali Hospital, the medical team declared that the victim could not be saved and was estimated to have died several hours before arriving at the hospital.
Initial police examinations showed no signs of violence on the victim's body. The family accepted the incident as a tragedy and declined further legal action. This incident adds to the warnings for hikers regarding health risks amid extreme weather.
The Mount Merbabu National Park Authority (BTNGMb) had previously warned about the 'bediding' phenomenon, or extreme cold air that often occurs during seasonal transitions. With temperatures at the summit area dropping as low as 5 degrees Celsius or lower, hikers are urged to prepare standard safety equipment, including thick jackets, sleeping bags, and head protective gear to prevent the risk of hypothermia.
