Yogyakarta’s Disaster Management Agency Asks Public to Be Aware of Mount Merapi's Rain Lava Floods

YOGYAKARTA - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) has asked the public to be aware of the potential for rain lava floods from Mount Merapi during the rainy season in this province

"People who live or do activities around the rivers that have their source in Merapi need to be aware of rain lava floods," said Head of BPBD DIY Noviar Rahmad in Yogyakarta, Antara, Tuesday, November 26.

According to Noviar, high rainfall can increase the volume of water at the peak of Mount Merapi, so it has the potential to trigger rain lava floods if mixed with volcanic material deposits.

"The increasing volume of water at the peak of Merapi will of course be a potential for a lava flood," he said.

Therefore, the potential for rain lava flows in a number of rivers that have their source in Mount Merapi such as the Gendol, Bedog, Bebeng, and Boyong rivers, needs to be watched out for.

Based on the latest report, the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) noted that the volume of material from the southwest dome of Merapi is still experiencing measurable growth of 3,177,100 cubic meters, while for the central dome it remains at 2,361,800 cubic meters

To anticipate rain-fed lava floods from the peak of Merapi, according to Noviar, the DIY BPBD ensures that all Early Warning System (EWS) devices or automatic early warning devices in several rivers are in active condition

His party has also formed and distributed the Hydrometeorological Disaster Preparedness Task Force (Satgas) which is ready to carry out emergency response when flooding occurs in several areas.

In addition to rain-fed lava floods, Noviar appealed to the public to be aware of the impacts of other extreme weather such as landslides that can occur in several cliff areas in the DIY.

"The potential for landslides is in the Kulon Progo Regency area, part of Bantul, and also Gunungkidul," he said.

Previously, the DIY Regional Government had extended the Hydrometeorological Disaster Emergency Alert Status, including floods, landslides, and extreme weather, by referring to the early warning of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) until January 2, 2025.

Head of the BMKG Yogyakarta Climatology Station Reni Kraningtyas said that the peak of the rainy season in DIY is predicted to occur in December 2024 and February 2025.

Meanwhile, the end of the rainy season is predicted in May in the first decade to the second decade of 2025.

When the peak of the rainy season arrives, Reni appealed to the public, especially those living in areas prone to flooding, landslides, and strong winds to carry out independent mitigation early on.