Dinpar Sleman Closes Attractions 5 KM From The Peak Of Mount Merapi

Illustration of Mount Merapi. (Antaranews)

SLEMAN - The Tourism Office of Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY) has temporarily closed a tourist attraction which is approximately 5 kilometers from the peak of Mount Merapi. The regulation follows the hot cloud avalanche (APG) on Wednesday, March 9 through Thursday morning.

"Based on the evaluation of the development of Mount Merapi's activity following the occurrence of the APG, we issued a circular to close several tourist destinations which are approximately 5 kilometers from the peak of Mount Merapi and also other considerations related to the mitigation of the Merapi hot cloud disaster," said Head of the Tourism Office of Sleman Regency, Suparmono here. Sleman, Thursday 10 March, quoted from Antara.

According to him, in accordance with the recommendations of the BPPTKG and BPBD of Sleman Regency, tourist destinations that are closed within a radius of about 5 kilometers from the peak of Merapi are Klangon Hill, Petilasan Mbah Maridjan Kinahrejo, Kaliadem Bunker, and also those that may potentially be dangerous for Turgo religious tourism.

"Especially for Turgo and other tracking tours, even though the distance is more than 5 km, tracking activities cause greater potential hazards related to disaster mitigation efforts," he said.

He said, tourist areas with a safe radius can still be operational, both in the Kapanewon (Kecamatan) Cangkringan and Pakem areas.

"The Kaliurang tourist area is 6.8 kilometers from the peak of Merapi, destinations around Merapi Coffee are 7 kilometers away, the Merapi Golf tour is 9 kilometers and the others are still operational," he said.

Suparmono said that the Lava Tour Merapi jeeps were still allowed to operate. However, it must be outside a radius of 5 kilometers from the peak of Merapi. "We also prohibit tourist jeeps, restrict activities in rivers that disgorge at Mount Merapi because they are prone to rain, lava floods," he said.