4-12-2023 (JAKARTA) Tragedy struck on Mount Marapi in western Indonesia as the eruption of the volcano claimed the lives of at least 11 hikers, while three others were fortunate enough to be rescued by dedicated search teams. The rescue efforts continued throughout the night in an attempt to locate those missing in the aftermath of the eruption. The incident occurred on Sunday (Dec 4), when Mount Marapi, standing tall at 2,891 meters on the island of Sumatra, spewed a towering column of ash 3,000 meters into the sky, causing volcanic debris to rain down on nearby villages.
In a revision of the initial estimates, officials from local and national agencies raised the number of hikers reported to be on the mountain to 75 over the weekend. However, it was on Monday morning that search teams discovered the lifeless bodies of 11 individuals near the volcano’s crater. Abdul Malik, the head of the Padang Search and Rescue Agency, revealed that out of the 26 people who were yet to be evacuated, 14 had been found, with three of them found alive but in a weakened state, and the remaining 11 found deceased. Twelve hikers were still reported as missing, while 49 had successfully descended the mountain, some of whom required medical attention and were subsequently transported to the hospital, according to Malik.
The survivors, who were discovered near the crater, were in a precarious condition, with some suffering from burns, as confirmed by an official. Due to the challenging terrain, rescue workers took turns carrying the deceased hikers down the mountain. A video shared with AFP by the rescue teams depicted an ambulance rushing a burned climber away from the scene, its sirens blaring.
Another clip showcased a rescue worker wearing a headlamp as he carried a hiker, who moaned in pain but expressed gratitude by saying “God is great,” as they made their way to safety amidst the darkness of the night.
Helicopter air evacuations were hindered by the ongoing eruption, as confirmed by Malik. “Visually, until this morning, smokes are still billowing from the top. Visually, everything still looks grey,” he stated.
Rudy Rinaldi, the head of the West Sumatra Disaster Mitigation Agency, informed AFP that some of the rescued hikers required medical treatment due to their proximity to the eruption. “Some suffered from burns because it was very hot, and they have been taken to the hospital,” Rinaldi said. “Those who are injured were the ones who got closer to the crater.” According to the Basarnas, the national search and rescue agency, at least eight individuals suffered burns, one had burns and a fracture, and another had a head wound.
Ahmad Rifandi, an official at the Mount Marapi monitoring station, reported that ash rain had been observed after the eruption, reaching Bukittinggi city on Sunday. Bukittinggi is the third-largest city in West Sumatra, with a population of over 100,000.
Ade Setiawan, an official from the local disaster agency, issued a statement urging residents in nearby villages to remain indoors and provided them with masks for protection. Mount Marapi currently sits at the second-highest alert level in Indonesia’s four-step system, prompting authorities to impose a three-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano’s crater.
Indonesia, located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent volcanic and seismic activity due to the convergence of continental plates. The nation is home to nearly 130 active volcanoes, highlighting the constant vigilance required to ensure the safety of its inhabitants.
