Mount Marapi Eruption Occurs Again, Ash Colon Reaches 1,000 Meters

Mount Marapi, located in Agam Regency and Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra Province, erupted and threw a column of ash about 1,000 meters on Sunday, April 27. (ANTARA)

The eruption shook Mount Marapi again, located in Agam Regency and Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra, on Sunday morning, with a column of ash rising to 1,000 meters above the peak.

Fire Post (PGA) officer Marapi, Teguh, reported that the eruption occurred at 08.37 WIB. The gray volcanic ash smoke with thick intensity was heading west. This eruption activity was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 30.4 millimeters and a duration of about 1 minute 3 seconds.

According to PGA Gunung Marapi records, during the period from 1 to 27 April 2025, the 2,891-meter-high mountain above sea level has experienced 16 eruptions, with the highest column height reaching 1,500 meters.

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) in its analysis stated that during April 1 to 16, 2025, the status of Mount Marapi remained at Level II or Alert. However, they noted that seismic activity tends to show an increase in the last two weeks.

During the evaluation, PVMBG detailed the seismic activity that occurred, including eight eruptions or eruptions, 125 gusts, one tornillo earthquake, 17 shallow volcanic earthquakes, nine deep volcanic earthquakes, 37 local tectonic earthquakes, one earthquake was felt, and 41 distant tectonic earthquakes.

PVMBG also highlighted the trend of increasing activity, where the number of gusts jumped from 40 to 125 times, and the number of earthquake eruptions increased from four to eight times compared to the previous two weeks.

As a follow-up, PVMBG issued several recommendations to the public. Residents, climbers, and tourists are advised not to approach the area within a radius of three kilometers from the eruption center, namely the Verbeek Crater.

In addition, people living around the river that originates in Mount Marapi are reminded to be aware of the threat of rain lava, especially during the rainy season. If there is ash rain, residents are advised to wear masks to maintain the health of the respiratory tract.