Indonesia - All 23 missing persons on Marapi volcano declared dead
Three days after the sudden eruption of the Marapi volcano on the island of Sumatra, all 23 missing climbers have been located and declared dead. "Of the 75 registered hikers, 52 were successfully rescued, although some have minor to serious injuries. 23 have been declared dead," said the police chief of West Sumatra province. Most of the dead were reportedly severely burned.
More than 30 teams with a total of 300 rescue workers were deployed to bring the bodies down to the valley. So far, 16 of the victims have been handed over to the police for identification, explained the head of the local rescue services, Abdul Malik. However, the authorities fear that there may have been more climbers on the Marapi who had not officially registered for their ascent. Search teams continued to comb the slopes.
It continues to rain ash
The almost 3,000-metre-high Marapi - not to be confused with the volcano of almost the same name, Merapi, on the island of Java - erupted early Sunday afternoon (local time), sending a cloud of ash and debris some three kilometers high into the sky. Since then, there have been dozens of other, smaller eruptions, which - coupled with heavy rain in some places - have hampered the rescue work.
Ash continued to fall in several districts on Wednesday. "But at the moment it's just ash, not rubble," said Bambang Wasito from the local disaster control department. The authorities called on the population to wear protective masks, hats and goggles outdoors to protect themselves from ash and volcanic rock fragments.
Marapi is one of the most active volcanoes in Sumatra. Indonesia is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the most geologically active zone on earth. Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are not uncommon.
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- Despite the ongoing volcanic activity and ashfall, the police in Jakarta have issued a reminder for climbers planning to ascend any volcanoes in Indonesia to ensure they are properly registered and equipped, citing the recent events on Mount Marapi in Sumatra as a reminder of the potential dangers.
- The Indonesian government has allocated additional funds to improve emergency response capabilities in areas surrounded by active volcanoes, particularly in Sumatra, in light of the recent tragedies like the one on Mount Marapi and the need to ensure the safety of its citizens and tourists.
- Amidst the ongoing search and rescue operations on Mount Marapi in Sumatra, Indonesian officials have expressed concerns about potential climbers who may have gone unregistered and are still at risk, urging anyone with information about such individuals to contact the local police or emergency services immediately.
Source: www.stern.de
