Indonesian authorities urge tourists to heed volcano safety warnings

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3 hours ago

Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) urged tourists and tour operators to obey safety restrictions around active volcanoes, warning that entering prohibited areas could prove fatal during eruptions.

Imam Catur Priambodo, head of PVMBG’s Earthquake and Tsunami Geology Team, said volcanic areas could remain open to visitors as long as they followed safety recommendations and monitored volcanic activity.

“When a volcano’s activity increases, we issue recommendations that the public must heed,” he told reporters in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, on Tuesday during a geological-disaster mitigation outreach event.

PVMBG advisories define the distances considered safe for residents and visitors, based on volcanic hazard assessments and risk maps.

Imam said tourists and local residents must not cross those boundaries because doing so could expose them directly to volcanic hazards.

Indonesia uses four volcano alert levels: Level I, Normal; Level II, Alert (Waspada); Level III, Standby (Siaga); and Level IV, Warning (Awas). Activity increases do not automatically trigger higher alerts; officials also assess community risks.

“The alert level reflects both a volcano’s activity and the potential exposure of nearby communities,” Imam said.

PVMBG records show at least two fatal incidents involving tourists or hikers near active volcanoes: Mount Dukono in North Maluku and Mount Marapi in West Sumatra.

An eruption of Mount Dukono, which rises 1,335 meters above sea level, on May 8, 2026, killed three hikers, including two Singaporeans and one Indonesian.

The hikers were inside a restricted area despite PVMBG’s recommendation that visitors stay at least four kilometers from the crater.

An eruption of Mount Marapi in West Sumatra on December 3, 2023, killed 23 hikers. PVMBG had advised the public and visitors to stay at least three kilometers from the crater.

“Tour operators and tourists must comply with recommendations issued by the Geological Agency through PVMBG,” Imam said.