An eruption of Mount Marapi in West Sumatra, Indonesia, has resulted in the death of 11 climbers, with 12 others still missing. The incident occurred on December 4, 2023, and Indonesian rescuers embarked on a search and rescue operation following the volcanic activity.
Mount Marapi, standing at about 9,480 feet, witnessed a surge of climbers, with about 75 people ascending on Saturday, December 2. The blast led to several climbers being stranded.
The eruption was characterized by thick ash columns reaching heights of up to 9,840 feet, which blanketed nearby villages and towns with volcanic debris, prompting local authorities to distribute masks and urging the use of eyeglasses to shield residents from the volcanic ash.
Hendra Gunawan, head of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation, noted that Marapi has been at the third highest of four alert levels since 2011. This indicates above-normal volcanic activity and prohibits climbers or villagers within a radius of about 1.8 miles from the peak. Despite this, climbers sometimes disregard these rules for the thrill of reaching higher altitudes.
Forty-nine climbers were evacuated and rushed to hospitals for treatment of burns. Climbers had registered at two command posts or online through West Sumatra’s conservation agency before ascending. The possibility of other climbers using illegal routes or local residents being active in the area remains unconfirmed.
Officials have noted that Sunday’s eruption was not preceded by a significant increase in volcanic earthquakes, making the eruption difficult to predict. Mount Marapi is observed to erupt suddenly, making detection using equipment challenging due to the near-surface location of the volcanic source.
The volcano, which has been active since an eruption earlier this year that fortunately did not result in any casualties, is one of over 120 active volcanoes found across Indonesia. The nation’s geographical location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”— a horseshoe-shaped belt of volcanoes and tectonic faults surrounding the Pacific Ocean —makes it particularly susceptible to seismic and volcanic activity.
Roughly 1,400 people live on the slopes of Marapi in Rubai and Gobah Cumantiang, the nearest villages situated about 3.1 to 3.7 miles from the peak. The evacuation process is ongoing, as search teams continue to scour the area for the 12 climbers reported missing.