The Marapi volcano in western Indonesia erupted around 3 PM local time on Sunday, December 3, 2023. Observations indicated that ash from the Marapi volcano reached an altitude of 3,000 meters above the summit.
According to Hendra Gunawan, head of Indonesia’s Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center, ash from the Marapi volcano, located on the island of Sumatra, was observed at a height of 3,000 meters above the summit.
The Marapi volcano is the most active volcano on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia.
There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties following the eruption at 2:54 PM local time. “The ash column observed was gray with dense intensity leaning towards the east. The eruption is still ongoing,” Gunawan stated.
This 2,891-meter-high volcano is at the third-highest alert level in Indonesia’s four-tiered warning system, and authorities have imposed a no-go zone around the Marapi crater. “Communities surrounding the Marapi volcano and tourists are not allowed to climb the Marapi volcano within a 3-kilometer radius from its crater/summit,” Gunawan added.
Ahmad Rifandi, an official at the Marapi monitoring station, provided further information: “Ashfall has spread to the city of Bukittinggi, the third-largest city in West Sumatra with a population of over 100,000. Authorities recommend that those engaged in activities around Mount Marapi wear hats, glasses, and masks.”
Mount Marapi is the most active volcano on the island of Sumatra. The Indonesian archipelago is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates converge, leading to high volcanic and seismic activity. This Southeast Asian country has nearly 130 active volcanoes.
