Mount Marapi Eruption Ejected Column of Ash 2,000 Meters High

JAKARTA - The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) reported that Mount Marapi in West Sumatra Province had erupted by launching a volcanic ash column of approximately 2,000 meters above the peak.

The Acting Head of the Geological Agency, Lana Saria, in his statement in Jakarta, Saturday, said that the volcanic activity of the volcano with a height of around 4,891 meters above sea level was recorded at 08.42 WIB this morning.

"The observed ash column is gray with a thick intensity leaning towards the northeast. This eruption was recorded on the seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 30 mm and a temporary duration of one minute 25 seconds," he said.

Lana explained that the accumulation of magma energy in the mountain's belly triggered a sudden thick ash cloud, where the eruption process was reported to still continue while the disaster periodic report was being compiled.

Currently, the level of activity of Mount Marapi is still set at Level II Status (Warning), followed by a number of recommendations for limiting human activity around the disaster-prone area.

Local people, climbers, and tourists are strictly prohibited from entering and carrying out activities within a radius of three kilometers from the eruption center located in the Verbeek Crater in order to avoid the threat of hot clouds and incandescent material.

In addition to the distribution prohibition zone, the Geological Agency appeals to residents who live around the valley, stream, and river banks upstream of the peak of Marapi to always be aware of the potential for secondary threats in the form of cold lava flows.

In order to anticipate the impact of the spread of volcanic ash rain, the public is asked to use nose and mouth masks to avoid acute respiratory infections (ISPA), and to secure clean water from contamination of harmful substances.