Eleven hikers die in volcanic eruption
The Marapi volcano on the Indonesian island of Sumatra has been rumbling since January. But because it has not yet erupted, the volcano remains the destination of hikes. When it does erupt, at least eleven people die.
The eruption of the Marapi volcano on the Indonesian island of Sumatra has claimed the lives of at least eleven hikers. Twelve others are still missing on the mountain of fire, said Abdul Malik, head of the national rescue services, in the provincial capital of Padang.
Around 50 other hikers were evacuated after the eruption. It was not initially known exactly how the victims died. The volcano, which is almost 3,000 meters high, erupted early Sunday afternoon (local time) and spewed an ash cloud around three kilometers high into the sky. The authorities immediately set up an exclusion zone of three kilometers around the crater.
A rain of ash fell in various districts around the volcano. The sky also darkened at times. Residents were asked to stay in their homes. According to measurements, Marapi erupted for almost five minutes, said Abdul Muhari, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Authority. Further eruptions are still ongoing, said Hendra Gunawan from the Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).
Last eruption in 2018
According to the Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG), the volcano's activity has increased since January. Marapi is one of the most active volcanoes in Sumatra. It last erupted in 2018. At that time, volcanic ash rose up to five kilometers above the crater level.
On the main Indonesian island of Java, there is a volcano with a very similar name: Merapi, one of the most dangerous volcanoes on earth. The world's largest island state lies on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, the most geologically active zone on earth. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur frequently along this belt. There are around 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia.
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The tragic incident has brought international attention to the Marapi volcano, highlighting the danger posed by natural disasters in Indonesia. The cause of death for the eleven hikers who perished in the volcanic eruption is yet to be definitively confirmed.
Source: www.ntv.de
