West Sumatra's Marapi Mountain Erupted for 25 Seconds

Archive - Mount Marapi in Agam Regency, West Sumatra, has erupted. ANTARA/Muhammad Zulfikar

PADANG - The Mount Marapi Volcano Post (PGA) reported that the volcano in Agam Regency and Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra (Sumbar) erupted for 25 seconds on Thursday afternoon.

"Mount Marapi erupted at 11.27 WIB with a duration of about 25 seconds and a maximum amplitude of 25.9 millimeters," said PGA Mount Marapi officer Teguh Firmansyah as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, February 5.

Based on the PGA report, the high column of ash due to the eruption of the volcano 2,891 meters above sea level (MDPL) was not observed because it was covered by clouds.

At the same time, the PGA also reminded the public to continue to be aware of the worst possibilities, including the threat of cold lava floods.

Currently, Mount Marapi is at Level II (Alert) status. The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has also issued a number of recommendations, including that the public, climbers, or visitors are asked not to enter or carry out activities within a radius of three kilometers from the center of the eruption (Verbeek Crater) Mount Marapi.

The next recommendation is to appeal to people who live around the valleys, streams or river banks whose waters flow from the top of Mount Marapi to always be aware of the potential threat of the danger of flash floods that can occur, especially during the rainy season.

Then, if there is ash rain, the public is advised to use a nose and mouth covering mask to avoid respiratory tract disorders such as acute respiratory tract infections (ISPA).