6-12-2023 (JAKARTA) The aftermath of the volcanic eruption on Mount Marapi in Indonesia’s west took a grim turn on Wednesday (Dec 6) as the last missing hiker was discovered lifeless, bringing the death toll to 23, three days after the disaster unfolded.
The eruption, which propelled a towering ash column 3,000m higher than the volcano itself, occurred on Sunday while 75 hikers were exploring the slopes of Mount Marapi on the island of Sumatra.
Despite the challenging conditions, with additional eruptions and adverse weather, hundreds of rescuers tirelessly scoured the area, hampered by the need to take shelter at times. The search efforts have been marked by the evacuation of the missing hikers, carried down the mountain in body bags.
Abdul Malik, head of the Padang Search and Rescue Agency, confirmed the discovery of the final victim on Wednesday evening, stating that the evacuation process was underway. The national search and rescue agency, Basarnas, earlier identified the deceased hiker as a woman.
West Sumatra police chief, Suharyono, expressed the somber reality on Tuesday, stating, “23 people are suspected to have died. We all prayed they all could be rescued, but there was nothing we could do; God and nature had made a decision.”
Mount Marapi, known as the “Mountain of Fire,” continued emitting smoke into the sky on Wednesday morning, with additional eruptions reported just after midday local time. Officials monitoring the volcano detected at least five eruptions on Tuesday as the search efforts persisted.
Survivors shared harrowing accounts of their escape, with one hiker, Ridho, describing zig-zagging down to a trekking post as the eruption unfolded. The eruption’s loud sound prompted immediate panic, with some resorting to jumping and falling. Suharyono revealed that two of the hikers were police officers, one of whom survived with a broken arm, while the fate of the other remained uncertain.
The head of Indonesia’s volcanology agency, Hendra Gunawan, placed responsibility on hikers for venturing too close to the crater after the eruption. He pointed out that the agency had recommended no activity in that area, emphasizing the dangers of approaching the volatile zone.
While the official count of hikers was based on an online registration system, officials cautioned that there might have been more on unauthorized routes. Suharyono noted the possibility of unregistered or illegal hikers, emphasizing the challenges of regulating activities in the area.
Indonesia, situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity. Mount Marapi, as the most active volcano on Sumatra, adds to the nearly 130 active volcanoes in the Indonesian archipelago, underscoring the ongoing challenges posed by the region’s geological dynamics.
