Mount Marapi Eruption, PVMBG Explains The Temporary Threat For Local Residents

Visual eruption of Mount Marapi. (Photo via ANTARA/HO-PVMBG)

JAKARTA - Mount Marapi, West Sumatra Province, was reported to have erupted on Saturday, January 7. Mount Marapi threw a column of ash as high as 300 meters.

This information was conveyed by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG). They reported an eruption activity on Mount Marapi at 06.11 WIB in the form of an ejection at

"There was an explosive eruption on January 7, 2023, at 06.11 WIB with a ash column height of 300 meters above the peak," said PVMBG Volcano Coordinator Oktory Prambada, as quoted from Antara.

Oktory Prambada explained that the threat of danger is currently in the form of ash eruptions accompanied by ejection of material or sand that has the potential to hit an area with a radius of three kilometers from the Verbeek Crater eruption center.

He said that this eruption was initiated by an increase in the inner volcanic earthquake on December 25, 2022, which was recorded 13 times and inflation occurred in the peak-station tiltmeter data.

Based on seismic data from PVMBG from December 26, 2022 to January 6, 2023, 11 earthquake gusts were recorded, 9 tornillo earthquakes, 3 shallow volcanic earthquakes, 10 deep volcanic earthquakes, and 30 local tectonic earthquakes.

Based on the results of observations, analysis of visual and instrumental data until January 7, 2023 at 08.00 WIB, it is known that the activity level of Mount Marapi is still at level II or alert.

Meanwhile, recommendations at the level II activity level, according to PVMBG, are the community around Mount Marapi and visitors or tourists not to carry out activities approaching Mount Marapi at a radius of three kilometers from the crater or peak.

This, he said, was considering the crater as the center of the eruption and the source of the issuance of volcanic gases that could be harmful to life.

The government through PVMBG also appealed to the people around Mount Marapi to remain calm and not be provoked by rumors about the eruption of Mount Marapi.

The community is also expected to always coordinate with PVMBG and follow directions from the local government.