Semeru Mountain Monitoring Device Stolen, Case Reported to Police

MALANG - The Semeru Volcano Observation Post (PGA) revealed that the alleged theft of the monitoring device for the development of the volcanic activity of Mount Semeru, which is located at the Kopirejo Monitoring Station, Wajak District, Malang Regency, East Java, has been reported to the local police.

"A report to the police has been made, it (what was stolen) is a tool for monitoring activities on Mount Semeru," said Semeru PGA Observer Officer Liswanto as reported by ANTARA, Friday, April 24.

Liswanto stated that the alleged theft occurred on April 16, 2026. At that time, the device was known to be in an inactive position so that data on the development of volcanic activity at Mount Semeru could not be received by the monitoring officer.

After that, officers also checked the Kopirejo Monitoring Station and found a number of hardware components and installation of monitoring equipment, which consisted of 12 units of ACCU or batteries, 12 units of solar panels, two units of solar panel regulators, one unit of DC to DCconverter, grounding cable, and grounding stick had disappeared.

However, he conveyed that the implementation of supervision of the development of volcanic activity of Mount Semeru is still ongoing until now by relying on the supervision mechanism implemented by monitoring stations at other locations.

"(Monitoring) has no effect, because it can still come from other stations. So far it is still running," said Liswanto.

The loss of the monitoring device for the volcanic activity of Mount Semeru is not the first time. Because, in 2024 a similar incident also occurred, namely in Klepu Village, Sumbermanjing Wetan District, Malang Regency.

At that time, there were monitoring equipment components in the form of four battery units that were stolen.

Confirmed separately, the Head of the Public Relations Section of the Malang Police, AKP Bambang Subinanjarmengatakandugaan theft has been reported to the Wajak Sector Police and is in the process of follow-up.

"There are still things that need to be completed to be included in the police report (LP)," he said.