Indonesia
At least eleven people died in the volcanic eruption on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Three survivors were rescued, local search and rescue forces said on Monday. Twelve more people are still missing, they say.
04/12/2023 22/11
Online since today, 11:22 am
At the time of the eruption, 75 climbers were in the area. 49 climbers were evacuated from the area and many were being treated for burns.
The Marapi volcano, 2,891 meters high, erupted the day before, sending ash up to three kilometers into the air. Authorities have created a three-kilometer exclusion zone around the crater. A rain of ash fell in several areas around the volcano. The sky also got dark sometimes. Residents were advised to remain in their homes.
APA/AFP/Adi Prima According to authorities, the ash cloud was three kilometers high
Activity has increased since January
Authorities continued to closely monitor the volcano. Marapi activity has increased since January, according to the Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazards (PVMBG). The last time it erupted was in 2018. At that time, volcanic ash rose up to five kilometers above the height of the crater.
Indonesia: dead after volcanic eruption
At least eleven climbers died in a volcanic eruption on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The Marapi volcano, 2,891 meters high, erupted on Sunday, sending ash up to three kilometers into the air.
Marapi is one of the most active volcanoes in Sumatra, according to the PVMBG. The island state of Indonesia lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the most geologically active zone on the planet. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur most frequently along this belt. There are around 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia.
Missing after floods
At least ten people are also missing in Sumatra after severe flooding and a landslide in a village. A body was found in Lake Toba village, the head of local rescue authorities said.
After torrential rains, the landslide hit the village on Friday night and at the same time, dozens of houses were swept away by the floods. According to Indonesian rescue agency Basarnas, around 140 people were taken to safety.
Merapi volcano also more active
On the Indonesian island of Java there is a volcano with a very similar name: Merapi. This is also increasingly active again. The Volcanology Center warned of the potential dangers of lava and ash flows in late August. Merapi is located about 35 kilometers north of the city of Yogyakarta, in the center of Indonesia’s most populous main island, Java.
Merapi, more than 2,900 meters high, is a stratovolcano. During an eruption, a dangerous mix of dust, rock, lava and hot gas often washes down slopes. A serious eruption in 2010 killed more than 340 people and caused tens of thousands to flee.