The US State Department elevated its advisory to Level 2 for Central Java province on June 18 2026 citing ongoing eruptions at Mount Merapi. The alert covers a 10-kilometer radius around the crater where ashfall and pyroclastic flows remain possible. Travelers must monitor local alerts from Indonesia's Center for Volcanology.
Level 2 advises exercising increased caution but does not restrict travel outright. Airlines including Garuda Indonesia continue normal operations at Yogyakarta airport 30 kilometers from the volcano. Insurance providers now require volcanic activity riders for policies covering the region.
Indonesia recorded 47 eruptions at Merapi since January with the largest sending ash plumes to 8000 meters. Tourism to nearby Borobudur temple dropped 18 percent last month according to local operators.
Similar advisories were issued for Iceland and Hawaii earlier this year during comparable events. The US embassy in Jakarta maintains daily coordination with Indonesian authorities.
What this means for you
Postpone hikes on Merapi trails and reroute to safer sites such as Prambanan or Seminyak beaches. Download the MAGMA Indonesia app for real-time eruption notifications before departure.
Choose hotels in western Yogyakarta away from the eastern slopes and carry N95 masks for potential ash. Reconfirm travel insurance covers volcanic disruptions at no extra cost.
Future advisories may shift to Level 3 if activity intensifies forcing last-minute itinerary changes for July visitors.