Indonesia volcano eruption kills 11 hikers, 22 missing

The slopes of Mount Marapi in West Sumatra's Agam district, Indonesia, turned into a tragic scene as a volcano erupted on Sunday, December 3, leaving 11 hikers dead and at least 22 missing.

A thick volcanic cloud could be seen reaching 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) into the sky, reported the Associated Press. The eruption stranded and injured climbers, spreading volcanic ash over nearby villages, reported Reuters.

With over 120 active volcanoes, Indonesia sits on the lap of the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a region known for seismic upheaval. Marapi stands out as among the highly active volcanoes on Sumatra island, with its most tragic eruption occurring in April 1979, claiming the lives of 60 individuals.

Rescue efforts

• Abdul Malik, the head of Padang Search and Rescue Agency, on Monday, December 4, told the Associated Press that three survivors were found alive.
• "There are 22 people who have not been evacuated; we have found 14 of them and 11 were found dead," said Malik.
• The eruption affected a total of 75 hikers who were on the mountain during the incident on Sunday.

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Closure and evacuations

• The eruption, marked by white and grey ash plumes, prompted the closure of two climbing routes to the 2,900-meter (9,480-foot) mountain.
• Villagers living on the slopes of Mount Marapi were advised to stay at least 3 km away from the crater's mouth due to the potential threat of lava, Ahmad Rifandi from Indonesia's Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center told the Associated Press.
• Hari Agustian, an official at the local Search and Rescue Agency, reported the deployment of over 160 personnel, including police and soldiers, to search for the missing climbers.

• Rudy Rinaldi, head of the West Sumatra Disaster Mitigation Agency, told AFP, "Some suffered from burns because it was very hot, and they have been taken to the hospital."
• Abdul Muhari, National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson said "Marapi's alert level was maintained at the third-highest of four levels."

Videos circulating on social media showed the evacuation of climbers, their faces and hair smeared with volcanic dust and rain, reported the Associated Press.

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Challenges

• Despite the challenges, rescue teams worked tirelessly through the night to ensure the safe descent of mountaineers, reported Reuters.
• At least 22 hikers are still missing.
• The eruption sent ash plumes soared more than 3,000 meters into the air, affecting several villages and blocking sunlight.
• National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari confirmed the distribution of masks and urged residents to wear eyeglasses for protection against volcanic ash, reported the Associated Press.

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