Indonesia: Marapi volcano erupts, covers several villages with ash

The Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Centre in Indonesia reports that on Sunday, Mount Marapi in the West Sumatra province erupted, sending heated ash clouds several miles to the north and sending plumes of white and grey ash more than 3,000 metres (approximately 9,800 feet) into the air.

The Marapi monitoring post’s Ahmad Rifandi reported that there were no casualties but warned the residents to stay 3 kilometres (1.8 miles) away from the crater’s mouth due to the possibility of lava.

Speaking on behalf of the National Disaster Management Agency, Abdul Muhari reported that falling ash has covered multiple communities, obstructing the sun’s light in numerous places. In order to shield locals from volcanic ash, authorities gave out face masks and advised them to wear eyewear, he said.

Abdul Muhari stated that Marapi’s eruption alert level was kept at the second-highest level and that officials have been closely monitoring the volcano since sensors detected increased activity in recent weeks.

Because to Marapi’s volcanic activity, Japan’s Meteorological Agency announced on Sunday that it is now evaluating the possibility of a tsunami hitting the nation.

The earliest anticipated swelling, should a tsunami strike Japan’s coasts, is anticipated in the Okinawa region at approximately 2100 JST (0900GMT), the report stated.

Since its eruption in January, the approximately 2,900-meter (about 9,480-foot) mountain has been active, sending thick plumes of ash and steam rising as high as 400 metres (1,300 feet) over the crater. There were no confirmed casualties.

Marapi is one of the more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia. Because Indonesia is situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines that encircles the Pacific Basin, the country is vulnerable to seismic tremors.

(With agency inputs)