5-12-2023 (JAKARTA) Rescue teams in West Sumatra province, Indonesia, discovered two more bodies of hikers following the eruption of Mount Marapi, bringing the total death toll to 13. Abdul Malik, head of the search and rescue agency in the provincial capital of Padang, confirmed the grim discovery on Monday evening.
He stated, “The current death toll is 13,” adding that 10 hikers are still missing, while 52 have been successfully evacuated. Earlier, rescue teams had recovered 11 bodies of hikers near the crater of Mount Marapi and assisted several injured individuals down the mountain. The ongoing volcanic activity, coupled with adverse weather conditions, has hindered rescue efforts.
Abdul Malik expressed the challenges faced by the teams, stating, “Volcanic ash has reached the foot of the mountain, posing a challenge to the team. Both routes are steep and slippery.” Mount Marapi, meaning “Mountain of Fire,” is the most active volcano on Sumatra Island.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency reported on the evening of December 3 that Mount Marapi spewed ash up to 3,000 meters into the sky, surpassing its elevation of 2,891 meters. Video footage from local television showed intense volcanic eruptions, with smoke billowing continuously into the air, covering nearby roads and vehicles in volcanic ash. Authorities have imposed a 3-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano, restricting residents from entering the area.
Indonesia, situated along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activities, with nearly 129 active volcanoes across the archipelago.
Malik revealed that after the volcanic eruption, more than 100 personnel from the Padang search and rescue agency, along with military and police personnel, volunteers, and medical staff from West Sumatra province, formed a joint rescue team to conduct search and evacuation operations. Due to a minor eruption on the morning of December 4, rescue and evacuation activities were temporarily halted.
