What Happened to the Missing Climbers at the 2023 Merapi Eruption?

[Astronuc]

Mount Merapi is the most active of Indonesia's 130 volcanos.

Balai Penyelidikan dan Pengembangan Teknologi Kebencanaan Geologi (BPPTKG) reported that an eruption at Merapi (on Java) continued during 17-23 November. The SW lava dome produced a total of 91 lava avalanches that descended the flanks; three traveled as far as 1.3 km down the upper part of the Boyong drainage and 88 traveled as far as 1.8 km down the upper Bebeng drainage. Minor morphological changes to the SW lava dome were identified in webcam images due to continuing lava effusion and collapses of material. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to stay 3-7 km away from the summit, based on location.

https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=263250

Activity had increased between October 2022 through March 2023

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Merapi

May 2023 - https://phys.org/news/2023-05-indonesia-merapi-volcano-erupts-spewing.html

The volcano's last major eruption in 2010 killed more than 300 people and forced the evacuation of some 280,000 residents.
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/indonesia-merapi-and-earthquakes.444541/

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Hoping for the best on this one! I visited the nearby large city of Yogyakarta last summer. Lots of ruins in the area too.

 

[Astronuc]

Eleven climbers killed as Indonesia volcano erupts, search on hold​

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-...o-erupts-survivors-found-official-2023-12-04/

JAKARTA, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Eleven climbers were found dead in Indonesia on Monday following the eruption of the Marapi volcano in West Sumatra, a rescue official said, as a search to find 12 more missing was temporarily halted over safety concerns.

Three survivors were found on Monday along with the bodies of the 11 climbers, among 75 in the area at the time of Sunday's eruption, said Jodi Haryawan, spokesperson for the search and rescue team.