Approximately 150 individuals have evacuated an Indonesian village as Mount Marapi on Sumatra Island erupted, spewing volcanic ash that blanketed nearby villages on Sunday morning.
The eruption occurred at 6:21 am local time, sending thick volcanic ash 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) above the crater, drifting southwest of the peak, according to authorities. The country’s volcanology agency issued a statement cautioning those residing near the valley or riverbanks below Marapi’s peak about the potential threat of lava during the rainy season.
Last week, authorities raised Mount Marapi’s alert level to the second-highest following an escalation in volcanic activity. The new alert level necessitates the evacuation of a 4.5-kilometer (2.8-mile) radius from the crater.
Since Friday, a total of 158 villagers have evacuated to the homes of their relatives. While they were allowed to return home and check on their livestock during the day, they were advised not to stay at home at night within the exclusion zone. Shelters have been prepared in case of need, as recommended by the volcanology agency, according to local official Bambang Warsito.
To mitigate the impact of volcanic ash on respiratory health, local authorities have set up health posts and distributed free face masks. Mount Marapi had previously erupted in December, releasing an ash tower 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) into the sky. While several of the 75 individuals hiking the volcano were rescued alive, 23 lost their lives in the eruption, and another person succumbed weeks later in a hospital.
Indonesia, positioned on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to tectonic plate movements. Mount Marapi is the most active volcano in Sumatra and one of the nearly 130 active volcanoes in the Indonesian archipelago.