A volcano erupted without warning on Tuesday, catching a British-led hiking group mid-climb. The eruption, which occurred at Mount Merapi in Central Java, sent ash and debris cascading down the slopes. Sources confirmed that British expedition guides, trained in emergency protocols, acted within seconds to evacuate the party to safety.
A preliminary report suggests at least 15 hikers, including 12 Britons, were descending when the eruption began. The guides, experienced in high-risk terrain, used pre-planned escape routes and radio communication to coordinate a rapid descent. No casualties have been reported, though two hikers suffered minor injuries from falling rocks.
The local volcanology agency had raised the alert level to ‘standby’ days earlier, but the hike proceeded despite warnings. An investigation is underway to determine how the permits were granted. The British embassy in Jakarta has offered consular assistance.
Mount Merapi, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, has a history of deadly eruptions. This near-miss has raised questions about the oversight of adventure tourism in volatile zones.
