2023-12-04 08:13:14
At least eleven hikers have died in the eruption of the Marapi volcano on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Twelve others were still missing on the mountain of fire, Abdul Malik, head of the national emergency services, said on Monday in the provincial capital Padang. Around 50 other hikers were evacuated after the eruption. How exactly the victims died was not initially known.
The almost 3,000 meter high volcano erupted early on Sunday afternoon (local time) and spewed an ash cloud around three kilometers high into the sky. The authorities then immediately set up a three-kilometer exclusion zone around the crater. A shower of ash fell in various districts around the volcano. The sky also darkened at times. Residents were asked to stay in their homes.
Volcanic activity has been increasing since the beginning of the year
According to measurements, the Marapi erupted for almost five minutes. According to the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazards (PVMBG), the volcano’s activity has increased since January. Marapi is one of the most active volcanoes in Sumatra. It last broke out in 2018. At that time, volcanic ash rose up to five kilometers above the crater height.
On the Indonesian main island of Java there is a volcano with a very similar name: Merapi, one of the most dangerous volcanoes on earth. The world’s largest island state lies on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, the most geologically active zone on earth. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur frequently along this belt. There are about 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia.
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