Agus Budi Santoso, head of the Yogyakarta Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG), said flows descended toward the Kali Krasak (Krasak River) between midnight and 6 a.m. local time.
“Two pyroclastic flows were observed toward the southwest (Kali Krasak) with a maximum run of 1,600 meters,” Agus said in a statement Monday in Yogyakarta.
The flows had amplitudes of 18-33 mm and durations of 175-188 seconds, according to BPPTKG observations.
During the same period, Merapi also recorded 49 avalanche earthquakes with amplitudes of 2-41 mm and durations of 58-182 seconds, plus 14 hybrid earthquakes with amplitudes of 2-30 mm and durations of 27-50 seconds.
BPPTKG reported 20 lava avalanches toward the southwest (Kali Krasak) with a maximum run of 1.8 km and 13 toward Kali Sat/Putih, also reaching 1.8 km.
Visually, the volcano appeared clear with moderate to high white smoke rising roughly 500 meters above the crater.
Weather around the volcano was partly cloudy to clear, with temperatures ranging from 17.2 degrees Celsius to 19.2 degrees Celsius.
BPPTKG’s March 6-12 report noted morphological changes at Merapi’s southwest dome due to lava avalanches and volume shifts. The central dome showed no significant changes.
Aerial photos dated February 20, 2026, recorded the southwest dome’s volume at 4,044,000 cubic meters and the central dome at 2,368,800 cubic meters.
BPPTKG maintains Mount Merapi at Level III (Alert).
Current hazards include lava avalanches and pyroclastic flows to the south-southwest sector: Boyong River up to five kilometers and Bedog, Krasak, and Bebeng Rivers up to seven kilometers.
Southeast hazards include Woro River up to three kilometers and Gendol River up to five kilometers.
In the event of an explosive eruption, volcanic ejecta could reach areas within a three-km radius from the summit.
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Translator: Luqman H, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
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