Dozens of Climbers Trapped amid Indonesian Mount Marapi Eruption

Sumatra – Mount Marapi in Indonesia's West Sumatra province on Sunday has erupted and a total of 75 climbers were trapped during the accident. 

According a statement posted by Indonesia's National Agency for Disaster Management at X platform, the 2,891 meter-high volcano erupted at 2:54 p.m. local time, with spewing column of ash through nearby vllages and business districts, including Agam and Tanah Datar. 

Authorities have barred residents and visitors from carrying out any activities within 3 kilometers of the crater, and have set the second-highest alert level for Mount Marapi. 

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Gunung Marapi di Sumatera Barat erupsi.

Photo :

• PVMBG

Based on the seismogram recording of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), the eruption of Mount Marapi was recorded with a maximum amplitude of 30 mm and a duration of 4 minutes 41 seconds.

The Agam Regency BPBD Control and Operations Center (Pusdalops) team, Ade Setiawan, said that volcanic ash rain from the eruption of Mount Marapi was reported in the Nagari Lasi area, Canduang District, Agam Regency, West Sumatra, on Sunday. 

Direct reports from the field by the Agam Regency BPBD Pusdalops team, volcanic ash rain fell with high intensity, making the atmosphere of Nagari Lasi very dense and dark.

Upon arrival at the location, the Agam Regency BPBD team together with PMI immediately distributed masks to the community. In addition, they also appealed to the public not to leave the house first considering the high intensity of volcanic ash rain and its impact on health.

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Tim SAR gabungan mengevakuasi seorang dari puluhan pendaki Gunung Marapi di Kabupaten Agam, Sumatra Barat, yang terjebak di puncak menyusul erupsi gunung tersebut, Senin pagi, 4 Desember 2023.

Photo :

• VIVA/Andri Mardiansyah

Meanwhile, volcanic ash rain also occurred in Sungai Pua sub-district. However, the intensity was low with a short duration. This is thought to be due to the wind direction that tends to lead to the Canduang Sub-district area.

Several mountain climbers trapped during the accident

The Natural Resources Conversation Agency (BKSDA) West Sumatra reported that there were 75 people in Agam and Tanah Datar. Of the total, 35 of them are currently still in the peak area and are being carried out evacuation following Marapi Mount eruption. 

"Based on the online booking system, it was recorded that there were 75 climbers. To date, there are 40 climbers who have successfully descended and been evacuated. The remaining 35 climbers are still at the top and are being evacuated," said Executive Head of BKSDA Sumatra, Eka Dhamayanti on Sunday. 

Meanwhile, Team Commander of the Padang Search and Rescue Office, Wahyu Hidayat informed that the evacuation process for climbers – victims – of the Marapi eruption used a relay system, where the team was divided into several points. 

The rainy conditions and the still high intensity of the Marapi eruption became obstacles for the joint SAR team to evacuate them. 

However, Hidayat emphasized that officers would continue to carry out evacuations to save all climbers who were still trapped.

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Upon arrival at the location, the Agam Regency BPBD team together with PMI immediately distributed masks to the community. In addition, they also appealed to the public not to leave the house first considering the high intensity of volcanic ash rain and its impact on health.