Indonesia’s Marapi Volcano Erupts: Latest Updates and Impact

Indonesia’s Merapi volcano in West Sumatra province erupted, sending volcanic ash as high as 3,000 meters (9,843 ft) into the air. The eruption occurred at 2:54 p.m. local time (0754 GMT), and the volcanic ash was dispersed at high intensity to nearby districts, covering cars and roads with ash. The country’s disaster management agency, BNPB, has set the second-highest alert level for Marapi Mountain and barred residents and visitors from carrying out any activities within 3 kilometres of the crater. The agency has also distributed masks to residents and encouraged them to stay inside their houses. According to the volcanology agency, Indonesia, located on the Pacific’s “Ring of Fire,” has 127 active volcanoes.

A social media video shows the climbers being evacuated to a refuge, their faces and hair caked in volcanic dust and rain.

According to Abdul Muhari, a National Disaster Management Agency spokeswoman, multiple villages have been coated by falling ash, shutting out the sun in many regions. He said authorities provided masks to protect inhabitants from volcanic ash and advised them to wear eyeglasses.

Rubai and Gobah Cumantiang, the nearest villages about 5 to 6 kilometres (3.1 to 3.7 miles) from the peak, are home to approximately 1,400 people.

The alert level for Marapi remained at the third-highest of the four groups, according to Abdul Muhari, who also acknowledged that authorities had been closely monitoring the volcano after sensors detected increased activity in recent weeks.

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