On Sunday, Mount Marapi, a volcano located in western Indonesia on the island of Sumatra, erupted, releasing a towering column of ash that reached approximately three kilometers into the sky, as confirmed by officials.
Hendra Gunawan, the head of Indonesia’s Centre of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, reported that the ash emanating from Mount Marapi rose to an altitude of 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) above the volcano’s peak.
Despite the significant eruption, there have been no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The eruption occurred at 2:54 pm local time (0754 GMT).
Gunawan provided details in a statement, stating, “The column of ash was observed in grey colour with thick intensity leaning toward the east.” Importantly, he noted that the eruption is still ongoing, indicating continued volcanic activity.
Mount Marapi, standing at a peak elevation of 2,891 meters, is currently at the third-highest alert level in Indonesia’s four-step volcano alert system.
In response to the eruption, authorities have enforced an exclusion zone around the volcano’s crater, prioritizing public safety. The situation is being closely monitored as the volcanic activity persists.
