Mount Marapi West Sumatra Eruption Accompanied By Strong Bangs

Mount Marapi West Sumatra/DOCUMENTATION BETWEEN

Mount Marapi, West Sumatra, experienced another eruption accompanied by a loud bang that was clearly heard by residents in the Agam Regency to Bukittinggi City at 06.03 WIB.

"Like the sound of a bomb, just once, it was loud, until the children woke up and fell from their sleep. There was no shaking like an earthquake, only a very clear bang sounded shocking," said a resident of Ampek Angkek District, Agam Regency, Widia (35) as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, December 30.

He said that when he banged hard he immediately looked at Marapi from the direction of Sungai Puar District.

"There was also a Marapi eruption with thick black smoke rising high," said Wali Nagari or the Head of Bukit Bata Village, a fruit of Firdaus.

Ampek Angkek District, Sungai Puar District and Candung District are the closest areas in Agam Regency to the top of Mount Marapi.

Meanwhile, from the direction of Bukittinggi City, the eruption of Mount Marapi was not observed with thick fog conditions when the explosion occurred.

Volcano observer (PGA) officer Marapi Teguh Purnomo said that in his official record, Mount Marapi erupted at 06.03 WIB but the height of the ash column was not observed. This eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 31 mm and a temporary duration of 56 seconds.

"Hearing the sound of a bang, the eruption is still ongoing when the report is being made. Marapi is at Level II (alert) status with recommendations from residents to stay away from the area at a radius of three kilometers from the summit," said Teguh.

"People living around the river valley that originates at the top of Marapi are advised to always be aware of the potential threat of lava hazards that can occur," he said.

PGA officers also recorded 134 eruptions and 534 gusts since Marapi erupted for the first time experiencing an eruption on Sunday (3/12).

Marapi's activity experienced a cycle of ups and downs throughout December by causing the death toll of 24 people from mountain climbers who were trapped during Marapi's eruption.