Mount Marapi erupts, spewing volcanic ash 1,500 metres high

Padang — The Volcanic Observatory Post (Pos Gunung Api, PGA) reported an eruption of Mount Marapi, located in Agam and Tanah Datar regencies in West Sumatra Province, on Sunday at 15:11 Western Indonesia Time (WIB), with ash ejected to a height of 1,500 metres towards the south-east.

“The ash column was observed to be grey in colour with thick intensity trending towards the south-east,” said PGA officer Ilhamdi Saputra at Mount Marapi’s monitoring post in Padang City on Sunday.

The eruption was recorded on the seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 29.8 millimetres and a duration of approximately 68 seconds.

The volcano, which stands 2,891 metres above sea level, is currently at Level II or Alert status. This means the public is prohibited from conducting activities within a three-kilometre radius of the central activity area (Verbeek Crater).

Additionally, the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (Pusat Vulkanologi dan Mitigasi Bencana Geologi, PVMBG) has warned of the potential threat of cold lava flows, particularly for residents living along river channels that originate from the volcanic peak, especially during rainfall or the rainy season.

In the event of ash rain, the public is urged to wear masks covering the nose and mouth to avoid respiratory tract problems.

PGA officers have continuously warned that the accumulation of material from the volcanic eruption can cause water flows that pose the risk of cold lava floods at any time. This situation cannot be overlooked as it is extremely vulnerable and dangerous, particularly during intense rainfall. The most likely occurrence is a cold lava flood similar to the event of 11 May 2024 that claimed dozens of lives.