Magelang's Flood and Merapi Mudflow Gradually Recedes, SAR Operation Continues

Residents observe trucks and heavy equipment that were buried by cold lava flood material from Mount Merapi in the Senowo River, Dukun, Magelang, Central Java, Wednesday (4/3/2026) ANTARA FOTO/Andreas Fitri Atmoko/rwa.

MAGELANG - The flash flood mixed with lava from Mount Merapi in Magelang Regency, Central Java, began to gradually recede. This condition makes the search and rescue operations for missing victims resume.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has confirmed that the SAR team has added personnel and heavy equipment support to speed up the process of searching for victims who are still missing.

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, said the joint SAR team continued to comb the area affected by the lava flood.

"The SAR team has added personnel and heavy equipment support to speed up the search and rescue process," said Abdul Muhari in a statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, March 5.

BNPB confirmed that there were temporarily two residents who were still reported missing and were being searched by the SAR team. The number of missing victims is likely to increase as the impact of the lava flood is widespread.

Abdul explained that the mudslide occurred on Tuesday, March 3, after heavy rain hit the peak area of Mount Merapi and its surroundings. This condition triggered the overflow of the Senowo River in Dukun District.

In the incident, two residents were reported dead after being swept away by the lava flood. The two victims were known as Heru Setyawan (25) and Arif Fuad Hasan (26). The bodies of the two were found shortly after the incident.

In addition to the deceased, BNPB also received reports of six people being injured and are currently receiving medical treatment from local health workers.

In terms of damage, the results of the temporary data collection by the Magelang Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency recorded one truck being swept away by the flood. In addition, one bridge was reported to have broken and three other bridges were damaged.

This lava flood also affected eight villages spread across the Dukun, Sawangan, and Mungkid sub-districts.