In the western region of Indonesia, a local volcano erupted, leading to the unfortunate demise of at least 11 hikers. This information was confirmed by a local rescue official who spoke to AFP on Monday.
Mount Marapi: Eleven hikers killed as volcano erupts in Indonesia https://t.co/SEby5B1VWV
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Mount Marapi, a majestic natural formation located on the island of Sumatra, stands tall with a peak elevation of 2,891 metres (approximately 9,484 feet). On Sunday, the tranquility of the landscape was shattered when Mount Marapi erupted. The eruption was so intense that it propelled a massive column of ash 3,000 metres high into the sky.
Abdul Malik, the head of the Padang Search and Rescue Agency, provided a grim update on the situation a day after the eruption. He revealed that out of 26 individuals who were unable to evacuate in time, 14 have been located so far. Among these, 3 were found alive, remaining 11 were discovered deceased. The rescue teams continue their relentless search for the remaining 12 individuals, clinging to the hope of finding more survivors.
WATCH: Mount Marapi volcano erupts in Indonesia, spews a column of ash around three kilometres into the sky, forces the evacuation of dozens of hikers pic.twitter.com/eEK86Wx4aI
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He said there were a total of 75 hikers on the mountain from Saturday who rescue workers were trying to account for. 12 were still missing and 49 had descended, some of whom had been taken to hospital.
Rescue teams were working through the night to help bring mountaineers down to safety, West Sumatra’s natural resources conservation agency said.
Rudy Rinaldi, head of the West Sumatra Disaster Mitigation Agency told AFP some of the rescued hikers were receiving medical treatment.
“Some suffered from burns because it was very hot, and they have been taken to the hospital,” he said.
“Those who are injured were the ones who got closer to the crater.”
Mount Marapi, which is currently on the second alert level of Indonesia’s four-tiered alert system, has been a focal point of concern for the authorities. This second alert level signifies increased volcanic activity and potential danger to the public. In response to this heightened state of alert, the authorities have taken the necessary precaution of establishing a three-kilometre exclusion zone around the volcano’s crater.
The Indonesian archipelago, a collection of over 17,000 islands, is strategically positioned on the Pacific Ring of Fire. This major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean is a direct result of plate tectonics movement and collisions.
In fact, the Pacific Ring of Fire is home to 75% of the world’s volcanoes and 90% of the world’s earthquakes. The Indonesian archipelago, sitting right on this seismic hotspot, is no stranger to these geological activities. The meeting and interaction of the continental plates in this region lead to a high degree of volcanic and seismic activities.
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