Mount Marapi Eruption Throws Volcanic Ash 1 Kilometer High

Erupsi Gunung Marapi di Kabupaten Agam, Sumatera Barat. (ANTARA/Muhammad Zulfikar)

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) reported that Mount Marapi in Agam Regency and Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra (West Sumatra) erupted on Saturday morning, with a column height of ash reaching 1 kilometer.

"There was an eruption of Mount Marapi at 09.43 WIB with a column height of ash being observed about one kilometer above the top of the mountain," said Mount Marapi observation officer Teguh as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, January 4.

In the PVMBG report, the ash column was observed to be gray with thick intensity leaning towards the north and northeastern. This eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 30.3 millimeters with a temporary duration of about one minute 40 seconds.

Currently, Mount Marapi's volcanic activity is level II (alert). PVMBG issued a number of recommendations including the community, climbers, or visitors being asked not to enter or carry out activities within a radius of 3kilometers from the eruption center (Kawah Verbeek) of Mount Marapi.

In addition, we urge people who live around the valley, rivers or banks whose water originates at the top of Mount Marapi, to always be aware of the potential threat of rain lava floods that can occur, especially during the rainy season.

Wali Nagari (Village) Bukik Batabuah, Canduang District, Agam Firdaus Regency said the eruption had raised concerns from local residents, especially those living around the volcanic area.

"The explosion of the eruption was quite loud so some residents evacuated themselves to a safer location," he said.

Since the eruption of Mount Marapi on December 3, 2023, it has had a fairly bad impact on residents and the environment, such as unproductive agricultural land.

In addition, the threat of acute respiratory tract infection (ispa) continues to spy on local residents.

"The data we have reported is that around 500 families were affected by the eruption, not to mention agricultural land whose production was disrupted due to this disaster," he said.