Mount Marapi West Sumatra Eruption Again, Residents Asked To Beware Of Lava Floods

Mount Marapi West Sumatra when experiencing an eruption. Mount as high as 2,891 meters above sea level erupted again after being monitored for not having been active for the last ten days. (Between/HO-personal documentation).

West Sumatra (West Sumatra) Dadang - Mount Marapi (West Sumatra) erupted again on Monday (5/2) afternoon.

Volcano Observation Post (PGA) officer Teguh Purnomo noted that the eruption occurred at 15.16 WIB and was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 30.1 mm and a duration of 1 minute 29 seconds.

PGA asked the people around Mount Marapi not to enter and not to carry out activities within the danger area.

"People who live around the valley of the riverbanks that originate at the top of Marapi should always be aware of the potential threat of lava that can occur, especially during the rainy season," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, February 5.

PGA also asked the City Government (Pemkot) of Bukittinggi, Padang Panjang City, Tanah Datar Regency, and Agam Regency to always coordinate with the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG).

Wali Nagari or the Head of Bukik Bata Village, Firdaus fruit, said that the eruption was preceded by a rumbling sound that was clearly heard by residents around the foot of the mountain in Candung District and Puar River, Agam Regency.

"This is the first eruption of Mount Marapi in February. Previously, the mountain as high as 2,891 meters last erupted on January 24, 2024," he said.

The height of the eruption column was not observed from Bukittinggi because it was covered by thick clouds. However, in a number of areas near the mountain, the column of ash from the eruption looks quite large.

Currently, MountMarapi is still on Alert or Level III with a hazard radius of 4.5 kilometers from the crater.

Mount Marapi erupted in the period early December 2023 until now. There were a total of 24 casualties from climbers who were confined to the summit area when the initial eruption occurred.

To date, 140 eruptions have occurred and 861 gusts have occurred on Mount Marapi, which is located in Agam Regency and Tanah Datar.