PGA Reports Mount Marapi Eruption on Saturday Night with Duration of 201 Seconds

Padang — The Volcano Observation Post (PGA) of Mount Marapi reported that the volcano located in Agam District and Tanah Datar District, West Sumatra, experienced an eruption on Saturday evening lasting approximately three minutes and 21 seconds.

“Mount Marapi erupted on Saturday evening at 23:29 WIB. This eruption was recorded on the seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 30.2 millimetres,” stated Asep Antoni, an officer at the PGA Mount Marapi Observation Post in Padang on Saturday.

In its report, the PGA was unable to record the height of the volcanic ash column due to cloud cover. Currently, the volcano, which stands at 2,891 metres above sea level, maintains Alert Level II (Waspada) status. This means members of the public are prohibited from conducting activities within a three-kilometre radius of the centre of activity (Verbeek Crater).

Furthermore, the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) has warned of the threat of potential cold lava flows, particularly for residents living along river channels that originate from the peak of the volcano.

Such conditions are especially concerning during rainfall or the rainy season. Additionally, in the event of volcanic ash rain, residents are advised to wear masks covering the nose and mouth to prevent respiratory tract disorders.

PGA officers continue to monitor and remind the public that the accumulation of material from the volcanic eruption can trigger water flows that potentially cause cold lava floods at any time.