PVMBG: Mount Marapi Status Rises To Alert Level

The appearance of Mount Marapi from Bukittinggi City on December 10, 2023. (ANTARA/Muhammad Zulfikar).

PADNAG - Center for Volcanology and Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) reported that the status of Mount Marapi in West Sumatra Province rose to level III or standby.

"Based on the results of a thorough analysis and evaluation of the activity level of Mount Marapi, it was raised from level II (alert) to level III (standby) starting January 9, 2024 at 18:00 WIB with recommendations that were adjusted to the latest potential/dangerous threat," said Head of PVMBG of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Hendra Gunawan in a written statement reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 9.

With this increase in status, PVMBG issued a number of recommendations. First, people who live around Mount Marapi, climbers, visitors or tourists so as not to enter or carry out activities in a radius of 4.5 kilometers from the eruption center (verbeek area).

Second, people living around the valley, rivers and banks that head up at the top of Mount Marapi to always be aware of the potential or threat of lava that can occur, especially during the rainy season.

If there is ash rain, the public is advised to use a mask covering the nose and mouth to avoid respiratory tract problems, as well as other equipment to protect the eyes and skin. In addition, residents are advised to secure clean water facilities and clean the roof of the house from thick volcanic ash so that it does not collapse.

All parties are advised to maintain a conducive atmosphere in the community, not spread false narratives (hoaxes), and not be provoked by issues whose sources are unclear.

The next recommendations are the Bukittinggi City Government, Padang Panjang City, Tanah Datar Regency, and Agam Regency to always coordinate with PVMBG in Bandung, or the Mount Marapi Observation Post in Bukittinggi City.

Terakhir, masyarakat, instansi pemerintah, maupun instansi terkait lainnya dapat memantau perkembangan aktivitas maupun rekomendasi Gunung Marapi melalui aplikasi android Magma Indonesia, website Magma Indonesia (www.vsi.esdm.go.id atau https://magma.esdm.go.id), dan media sosial PVMBG (facebook, twitter, dan instagram).

He said that based on visual observations 1-8 January 2024, Mount Marapi was clearly visible until it was covered in fog. Observed, the smoke from the main crater was white to gray with moderate to thick intensity with a height of about 150-700 meters above the peak.

Eruption was observed with a column height of 700 meters above the peak with a gray column of eruption. The weather was sunny to rainy, weak winds to the north, northeast, south, and southwest. The air temperature is about 19-27.5 degrees Celsius.