Three PNP Students Victims Of Mount Marapi Died

The joint team included victims of the eruption of Mount Marapi to be taken to the Achmad Mochtar Hospital (RSAM) Bukittinggi, Tuesday, (5/12/2023). BETWEEN/Muhammad Zulfikar.

The Padang State Polytechnic (PNP) of West Sumatra informed that three of the 14 students from the college died after the eruption of Mount Marapi on Sunday (3/12).

"After we searched 14 Padang State Polytechnic students who became victims of the eruption of Mount Marapi," said Padang Utih SW PNP Student Affairs at the Nagari Batu Palano search post as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, December 5.

Utih also confirmed that one of the students brought his parents while climbing the 2,891 meter high active volcano.

He said of the 14 students as of Monday (4/12), eight of them had been evacuated by a joint team. Of that number, six people survived while two died and have been buried.

"The two victims came from Asam Pulau, Lubuk Alung District, Padang Pariaman Regency and Padang City," he said.

Then on Tuesday (5/12) at around 16.36 (Arriving at the post) the joint team managed to evacuate one victim who was also a PNP student, but was already dead.

The newly evacuated victim was immediately taken to the Achmad Mochtar Hospital (RSAM) Bukittinggi using an ambulance for identification.

"So, for temporary data, nine PNP students have been evacuated, three have died and six have survived," he explained.

He said that the other five students are currently still in the process of searching for a joint team. Of the five victims, one of them is known to have participated in bringing their parents to Mount Marapi.

"The male parents (students who brought the mother) this morning followed up to help with the search," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Padang City SAR office, West Sumatra, Abdul Malik said that driving volcanic ash was one of the inhibiting factors for the joint team in evacuating the victims of Mount Marapi.

"There have been five meetings of eruptions until 11.00 WIB. Earlier, volcanic ash also fell to the foot of the hill and disrupted the team's visibility," said Abdul Malik.