Mount Marapi Erupts, Joins 18 Indonesian Volcanoes on Alert Level II

Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted on Sunday (December 3, 2023). According to the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), an explosive eruption occurred at 2:54 PM WIB, with an observed ash column height of approximately 3000 meters above the peak (5891 meters above sea level).

PVMBG stated that the observed ash column was gray, dense, and drifted eastward. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 30 millimeters (mm) and a duration of 4 minutes and 41 seconds.

The eruption was also accompanied by pyroclastic flows towards the north, with a runout distance of 3 kilometers (km).

"At this time, follow-up eruptions are still ongoing based on instrumental observations by PVMBG," according to a press release from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Sunday (December 3, 2023).

According to PVMBG, the eruption was not preceded by a significant increase in volcanic earthquakes. Only 3 Deep Volcanic Earthquakes (VA) were recorded between November 16, 2023, and December 2, 2023.

Deformation equipment (Tiltmeter) at the peak station showed a horizontal pattern on the radial axis and slight inflation on the tangential axis. "This indicates that the eruption process was rapid and the pressure center was only at a shallow depth (around the peak)," said PVMBG.

According to Magma Indonesia data, Mount Marapi remains at Level II (Alert) as of noon today (December 4, 2023). Based on visual observations at 1:20 AM WIB this morning, no crater smoke was observed, with cloudy to rainy weather, weak winds blowing towards the north and southwest.

Meanwhile, based on seismic observations from 00:00 to 06:00 WIB yesterday, there were 36 eruption/explosion earthquakes with amplitudes of 2.3-30 mm and durations of 18-281 seconds. Then, there were 16 tremor earthquakes with amplitudes of 2-9.8 mm and durations of 23-85 seconds.

"The public around Mount Marapi and visitors/tourists are prohibited from climbing Mount Marapi within a 3 km radius of the crater/peak," as quoted from the Magma Indonesia website, Monday (December 4, 2023).

Mount Marapi is on the list of 18 active volcanoes in Indonesia currently at Level II (Alert). Other volcanoes include Mount Awu in North Sulawesi, Ili Lewotolok in East Nusa Tenggara, and Mount Bromo in East Java.

On the other hand, there are three volcanoes in Indonesia that are at Level III (Standby). These three volcanoes are Mount Anak Krakatau in Lampung, Mount Merapi in Yogyakarta/Central Java, and Mount Semeru in East Java.

There are also 47 volcanoes in Indonesia that are at Level I (Normal). These include Mount Agung in Bali, Mount Ciremai in West Java, and Mount Wurlali in Maluku.

However, according to Magma Indonesia, there are currently no volcanoes in Indonesia at Level IV (Warning).

Magma Indonesia notes that there are 127 active volcanoes throughout Indonesia currently. However, only 69 active volcanoes are monitored by PVMBG.