Indonesian officials suspended the search for 12 climbers on Monday December 4 following another eruption of Mount Marapi. The volcano unleashed a fresh spew of hot ash, reaching heights of up to 800 meters (2,620 feet), as reported by the Associated Press. (Image: AP)
Earlier in the day, 11 climbers' bodies were retrieved during the search for the missing individuals. However, the efforts to relocate them were impeded by the renewed activity, Abdul Malik, the head of West Sumatra's Search and Rescue Agency told AP. He mentioned that the search operation would recommence once the conditions improved. (Image: AP)
Mount Marapi first erupted on Sunday December 3, releasing hot ash clouds. The volcano has consistently maintained the third-highest alert level out of four since 2011, signifying heightened volcanic activity. Hendra Gunawan, the head of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation, conveyed that this alert level restricts climbers and residents within 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) of the summit, as reported by the AP. (Image: Reuters)
Around 75 climbers embarked on their ascent of the nearly 2,900-meter (9,480-foot) mountain on Saturday December 2, but ended up stranded. A total of 52 individuals, including three rescued on Monday, were successfully retrieved by authorities. Hari Agustian, an official at the local Search and Rescue Agency in Padang, the provincial capital of West Sumatra, told AP that eight of those rescued on Sunday were promptly taken to the hospital due to burns, while one person suffered a broken limb. (Image: AP)
During Sunday's eruption, Marapi discharged dense columns of ash, reaching heights of up to 3,000 meters (9,800 feet), with hot ash clouds extending over several miles. Nearby villages and towns were covered in tons of volcanic debris. (Image: AP)
A layer of falling ash covered numerous villages, obscuring sunlight. Authorities provided masks and advised residents to wear eyeglasses for protection against volcanic ash. Approximately 1,400 individuals reside on Marapi's slopes in Rubai and Gobah Cumantiang, the closest villages situated around 5 to 6 kilometers (3.1 to 3.7 miles) from the peak. (Image: Reuters)
Marapi has displayed consistent eruptions since 2004, occurring at intervals of 2 to 4 years, according to Gunawan. He mentioned that Marapi eruptions are characterised by their sudden nature, making them challenging to detect with equipment due to the proximity of the source to the surface. Gunawan clarified, "This eruption was not triggered by magma movement." (Image: Reuters)
Marapi has remained active since a non-fatal eruption in January. It is one of over 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, a country prone to seismic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" – a circle of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin. (Image: AP)