One of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, Mount Marapi, erupted on Sunday, spewing thick columns of ash at least three times and blanketing nearby villages with volcanic debris. Authorities report no casualties from the eruption.
Mount Marapi, located in Agam district of West Sumatra province, is known for sudden eruptions that are difficult to predict due to the lack of deep magma movement, which typically triggers detectable seismic activity.
The volcano unleashed hot ash clouds that spread for several kilometers, covering nearby villages and towns with thick volcanic residue. It also shot ash columns as high as 2,000 meters into the sky, according to Ahmad Rifandi, an official with Indonesia’s Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center at the Marapi monitoring post.
“The eruption has been ongoing since early Sunday, with thick ash columns and hot clouds affecting areas around the volcano,” Rifandi said. “We have advised residents and climbers to stay at least 3 kilometers away from the crater due to the potential threat of lava flow.”
The nearly 2,900-meter-high volcano has been on the second-highest alert level since January, prohibiting climbers and villagers within a 3-kilometer radius from the crater’s mouth.
Mount Marapi last erupted in December 2023, tragically killing 24 climbers and injuring several others who were caught off guard by its sudden weekend eruption. Since then, two climbing routes have been closed as a precautionary measure.
Indonesia sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area known for its intense seismic and volcanic activity. Mount Marapi is one of 129 active volcanoes in the country, and its eruptions pose a continuous threat to nearby communities due to sudden and unpredictable activity.
Local authorities are monitoring the situation closely and have urged residents to wear masks to protect themselves from volcanic ash and to remain vigilant for further updates.
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Indonesia's Marapi volcano erupts, spewing ash and hot clouds
cgtn.com
