Mount Marapi Erupts Again, Volcanic Ash Falls over Agam

Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted again at 9.55am local time on Saturday (7 November 2026), sending volcanic ash as far as Sungai Pua district in Agam Regency.

“We felt the volcanic ash fall in Nagari Sariak, Sungai Pua. It is severely affecting visibility and making it difficult to breathe,” said Ismail Damar, head of the Sariak Disaster Preparedness Village group, in Bukittinggi on Saturday.

Ismail said volcanic ash had also covered much of the agricultural and plantation land belonging to residents on the slopes of Mount Marapi.

The local wali jorong (hamlet head), also named Ismail, reported similar conditions. He took shelter in a hut while working in his garden to avoid exposure to the ash, which was disrupting outdoor activities.

“I am in the garden at the moment, so for now I am taking shelter inside the hut. The ash fall is disrupting activities,” he said.

Ahmad Rifandi, an officer at the volcano monitoring post, said the eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 15.6 millimetres and lasted about 48 seconds.

“The height of the ash column could not be observed from the monitoring post. Mount Marapi’s activity status remains at Level II (Alert),” Ahmad said.

The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has issued several recommendations to address the impact of Mount Marapi’s volcanic activity.

PVMBG has urged residents, climbers, visitors and tourists not to enter or carry out activities within a 3-kilometre radius of the eruption centre, Verbeek Crater.

Residents near valleys, waterways and riverbanks downstream from Mount Marapi’s summit have also been asked to remain alert to possible lahars, particularly when rain falls around the summit.

People have been advised to wear masks covering their nose and mouth during ash falls to reduce the risk of health problems, including acute respiratory infections.

PVMBG has also urged the public to remain calm, avoid spreading hoaxes and be wary of information from unclear sources.

Residents should follow official instructions from local authorities in the affected areas: Bukittinggi City, Padang Panjang City, Tanah Datar Regency and Agam Regency.