2023 eruption of Mount Marapi
{{Short description|Volcanic eruption in West Sumatra, Indonesia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox eruption
| name = 2023 eruption of Mount Marapi
| photo = File:Erupsi Gunung Marapi RRI-Novelhya Wirda.jpg
| caption = Ash from the eruption
| date = 3 December 2023
14:54 Western Indonesian Time (07:54 UTC){{cite news |last=Christina |first=Bernadette |title=Indonesia's Marapi volcano erupts, spewing ash |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesias-marapi-volcano-erupts-spewing-ash-2023-12-03/ |orig-date=3 December 2023 |work=Reuters |publication-date=4 December 2023 |access-date=4 December 2023 |archive-date=5 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205202035/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesias-marapi-volcano-erupts-spewing-ash-2023-12-03/ |url-status=live }}
| location = West Sumatra, Indonesia
| volcano = Mount Marapi
| type =
| VEI = 2{{cite web |url=https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=261140&vtab=Eruptions |title=Marapi|website=Global Volcanism Program |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}
| coordinates = {{coord|-0.3800|100.4742|type:event_region:ID-SB|display=inline,title}}
| impact = 24 dead, 12 injured
}}
{{Location map | Indonesia Sumatra
| width = 264
| lat_deg = -0.3811
| lon_deg = 100.472
| label = Mount Marapi
|marksize=20
|mark=Vulcano-fire-icon.svg
| relief = yes
| caption = Map of Mount Marapi in West Sumatra
}}
On 3 December 2023, Mount Marapi, a complex volcano on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, erupted, sending ash as high as {{convert|3000|m|-3}} into the air, and depositing large amounts of volcanic ash in nearby districts. Twenty-four hikers were found dead near the crater of the volcano.{{cite news |date=December 5, 2023 |title=Death toll rises to 23 after surprise eruption of Indonesia's Mount Marapi |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/indonesia-mount-marapi-death-toll-rises-23-rcna128269 |agency=Associated Press |via=NBC News |access-date=December 6, 2023 |archive-date=6 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206084759/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/indonesia-mount-marapi-death-toll-rises-23-rcna128269 |url-status=live }}
Background
As the most active complex volcano in West Sumatra province, and in proximity to populated areas, Mount Marapi is a significant hazard.{{Cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/scores-stranded-as-villages-blanketed-by-ash-after-indonesia-s-marapi-volcano-erupts/ar-AA1kW5dB |title=Scores stranded as villages blanketed by ash after Indonesia's Marapi volcano erupts |website=MSN |first=Rahma |last=Nurjana |date=4 December 2023 |publisher=USA Today |access-date=4 December 2023 |archive-date=4 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204152941/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/scores-stranded-as-villages-blanketed-by-ash-after-indonesia-s-marapi-volcano-erupts/ar-AA1kW5dB |url-status=live }} Since 2011, the volcano has been at the level II (Waspada) of a four-tier alert system set up by the Volcanological Survey of Indonesia. A significant eruption occurred in 1979,{{Citation | author1=Pusat Meteorologi dan Geofisika | title=Laporan bencana alam Gunung Marapi, Sumatera Barat, tanggal 30 April 1979 | publication-date=1979 | publisher=[s.n.] | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10060521 | access-date=4 December 2023 | language=id | location=Jakarta | archive-date=6 December 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206124151/https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10060521 | url-status=live }} killing 60 people.{{cite news |title=Death toll rises to 13 after Mount Marapi eruption, climbers still missing |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/5/death-toll-rises-to-13-after-mount-marapi-eruption-climbers-still-missing |website=Al Jazeera English |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=5 December 2023 |date=5 December 2023 |archive-date=6 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206124114/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/5/death-toll-rises-to-13-after-mount-marapi-eruption-climbers-still-missing |url-status=live }} At least one person was killed in an eruption in 1996. During April–May 2018 ashfalls to the southeast occurred.{{cite report |author=Global Volcanism Program |author-link=Global Volcanism Program |editor-first=E. |editor-last=Venzke |date=2018 |title=Report on Marapi (Indonesia) |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |volume=43 |journal=Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network |issue=6 |access-date=4 December 2023 |url=https://volcano.si.edu/showreport.cfm?doi=10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN201806-261140 |doi=10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN201806-261140 |archive-date=5 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205201952/https://volcano.si.edu/showreport.cfm?doi=10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN201806-261140 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }} The volcano last erupted in January 2023 but did not cause casualties. Predicting the volcano's behavior is described as difficult because the geological sources of its sudden eruptions are shallow and near its peak; that is, its eruptions are not caused by a deep movement of magma that can be detected as volcanic earthquakes on seismic monitors. About 1,400 people live on its slopes in the Rubai and Gobah Cumantiang villages, about {{convert|5–6|km}} from the summit.{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/mount-marapi-eruption-climbers-fe1ec3fff730eb19a4940e55e85300cb |title=More bodies found after sudden eruption of Indonesia's Mount Marapi, raising confirmed toll to 22 |publisher=Associated Press |website=AP News |access-date=5 December 2023 |date=5 December 2023 |first=Mardi Rosa |last=Tanjung |archive-date=5 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205201932/https://apnews.com/article/mount-marapi-eruption-climbers-fe1ec3fff730eb19a4940e55e85300cb |url-status=live }}
Before the 2023 eruption, Volcanological Survey of Indonesia head Hendra Gunawan said that the agency had been warning the local conservation agency and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry for over a decade against allowing climbers to go within {{Convert|3|km|mi|abbr=out|spell=in}} of the volcano's crater. The conservation agency said that climbing permits were issued by several local agencies, including the provincial government of West Sumatra, the local office of the National Search and Rescue Agency in the provincial capital of Padang, and the National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure. Some of the hiking trails on Marapi had been reopened in June 2023 following the eruptions earlier in the year.
Eruption
On 3 December 2023, Mount Marapi erupted. The eruption sent ash as high as {{convert|3000|m|-3}} into the air, and volcanic ash was deposited in several nearby districts. There were a total of 46 eruptions and 66 blasts observed from the volcano's observation post on 3–4 December.{{cite web |url=https://en.tempo.co/read/1805379/mount-marapi-erupts-46-times-in-2-days-sar-team-postpones-evacuation |title=Mount Marapi Erupts 46 Times in 2 Days; SAR Team Postpones Evacuation |last=Muthiariny |first=Dewi Elvia |date=5 December 2023 |publisher=Tempo |access-date=5 December 2023 |editor-last=Bhwana |editor-first=Petir Garda |archive-date=6 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206190426/https://en.tempo.co/read/1805379/mount-marapi-erupts-46-times-in-2-days-sar-team-postpones-evacuation |url-status=live }}
Several cities in West Sumatra such as Padang Panjang and Bukittinggi, as well as the regencies of Pasaman and West Pasaman received volcanic ash. The eruption lasted four minutes and registered {{Convert|30|mm|in|abbr=on}} as its maximum amplitude on a seismograph.{{Cite web |last=Afrianto |first=M. Afdal |title=Gunung Marapi di Sumbar Erupsi, 3 Daerah Dilanda Hujan Abu Vulkanik |url=https://www.detik.com/sumut/berita/d-7069839/gunung-marapi-di-sumbar-erupsi-3-daerah-dilanda-hujan-abu-vulkanik |access-date=5 December 2023 |date=3 December 2023 |website=detiksumut |publisher=detik.com |language=id-ID |archive-date=6 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206190436/https://www.detik.com/sumut/berita/d-7069839/gunung-marapi-di-sumbar-erupsi-3-daerah-dilanda-hujan-abu-vulkanik |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Abu Vulkanik Letusan Gunung Marapi Mulai Dirasakan di Pasaman Barat |url=https://padang.tribunnews.com/2023/12/03/abu-vulkanik-letusan-gunung-marapi-mulai-dirasakan-di-pasaman-barat |access-date=5 December 2023 |website=TribunPadang.com |publisher=Tribunnews.com |date=3 December 2023 |language=id-ID |first=Ahmad |last=Romi |archive-date=6 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206190444/https://padang.tribunnews.com/2023/12/03/abu-vulkanik-letusan-gunung-marapi-mulai-dirasakan-di-pasaman-barat |url-status=live }}
On 22 December, the volcano erupted again, emitting volcanic ash that forced the cancellation of flights at Minangkabau International Airport.{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/indonesia-marapi-volcano-eruption-airport-1367ed215ea7190c1a85e14161b7ed0a |title=Ash from Indonesia's Marapi volcano forces airport to close and stops flights |last=Nurjana |first=Rahma |date=22 December 2023 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=23 December 2023}}
As of January 2024, at least 113 eruptions have occurred on Marapi since its initial activity in December,{{cite web |url=https://en.antaranews.com/news/302547/mount-marapi-erupts-again-releasing-roaring-sounds |title=Mount Marapi erupts again, releasing roaring sounds |date=7 January 2024 |publisher=Antara |access-date=14 January 2024}} with the latest eruption occurring on 14 January.{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/indonesia-marapi-volcano-eruption-evacuations-ceb5b08d11bc216efae059dc7350211b |title=Indonesia's Mount Marapi erupts again, leading to evacuations but no reported casualties |date=14 January 2024 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=14 January 2024}}
Casualties
The eruption occurred while many climbers were on the mountain's slopes. Out of 75 hikers who climbed the mountain on 2 December, 49 were evacuated, three were found alive and rescued, and 24 were found dead;{{cite news|title=Sempat Dirawat Intensif, Mahasiswi PNP Korban Erupsi Marapi Wafat|url=https://radarsumbar.com/sempat-dirawat-intensif-mahasiswi-pnp-korban-erupsi-marapi-wafat/|website=Radarsumbar.com|language=id|date=17 December 2023|access-date=17 December 2023}} twelve of the survivors were injured.{{cite news |title=Mount Marapi: Indonesia volcano death toll rises to 22 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67621787 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=5 December 2023 |date=5 December 2023 |first1=Jerome |last1=Wirawan |first2=Zoya |last2=Mateen |archive-date=5 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205092111/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67621787 |url-status=live}}
The fatalities were found near the crater of the volcano, while the search for other missing hikers was interrupted by sporadic eruptions,{{cite news |title=Mount Marapi eruption: 11 hikers found dead on Indonesian volcano |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/04/mount-marapi-eruption-indonesia-hikers-found-dead?ref=upstract.com |website=The Guardian |access-date=2023-12-04 |archive-date=2023-12-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204153047/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/04/mount-marapi-eruption-indonesia-hikers-found-dead?ref=upstract.com |url-status=live}} with the body of the last fatality being recovered on 6 December.{{Cite news |publisher=BBC |date=6 December 2023 |title=Mount Marapi: Indonesia rescuers find last missing hiker on volcano |language=en-GB |website=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67634503 |access-date=6 December 2023 |archive-date=6 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206190427/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67634503 |url-status=live |first1=Jerome |last1=Wirawan |first2=George |last2=Wright}} The fatalities suffered severe burns that prevented facial identification, while some of the survivors sustained burns and fractures.{{cite news |title=Indonesia volcano death toll mounts after more bodies found on Mt. Marapi |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231205-indonesian-rescuers-race-to-find-12-missing-after-eruption |website=France 24 |access-date=5 December 2023 |date=5 December 2023 |archive-date=5 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205202010/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231205-indonesian-rescuers-race-to-find-12-missing-after-eruption |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=5 December 2023 |title=Mount Marapi eruption: Survivor tells BBC of ordeal from hospital |language=en-GB |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67629358 |access-date=5 December 2023 |archive-date=5 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205230212/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67629358 |url-status=live |first=Jerome |last=Wirawan}} One hiker recalled that he had not noticed any warning that the volcano was going to erupt apart from encountering a group of monkeys screaming frantically as his group reached the base of the volcano upon their descent.{{Cite news |date=9 December 2023 |title=Marapi eruption: Hikers recount escape from 'Mountain of Fire' |language=en-GB |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67656848 |access-date=9 December 2023 |archive-date=9 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209001036/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67656848 |url-status=live }}
Response
In response to the eruption, local authorities prohibited any activity within {{Convert|3|km|mi|abbr=out|spell=in}} of the volcano. Masks were distributed to residents, who were encouraged to stay home.
At the end of 5 December, while the evacuation process was still ongoing, out of 23 fatalities found, only five bodies were recovered that day.{{cite web |url=https://www.kompas.id/baca/english/2023/12/04/en-evakuasi-korban-gunung-marapi-terkendala-erupsi?open_from=English_Page |title=Evacuation of Mount Marapi Victims Hampered by Eruption |last=Sastra |first=Yola |date=4 December 2023 |website=Kompas.id English |publisher=Kompas |access-date=5 December 2023 |archive-date=5 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205171731/https://www.kompas.id/baca/english/2023/12/04/en-evakuasi-korban-gunung-marapi-terkendala-erupsi?open_from=English_Page |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/mount-marapi-eruption-indonesia-death-bodies-found-b1124778.html |title=Mount Marapi: Apparent death toll from Indonesia volcano eruption rises to 23 as more bodies found |last=King |first=Jordan |date=5 December 2023 |website=The Standard |publisher=Evening Standard |access-date=5 December 2023 |archive-date=5 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205082223/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/mount-marapi-eruption-indonesia-death-bodies-found-b1124778.html |url-status=live}} All 23 bodies were eventually recovered by the afternoon of 6 December, marking the end of the evacuation. {{Cite web |last1=Putra |first1=Perdana |last2=Purba |first2=David Oliver |date=6 December 2023 |title=75 Korban Erupsi Gunung Marapi Ditemukan, 23 Meninggal, Pencarian Resmi Dihentikan |url=https://regional.kompas.com/read/2023/12/06/235941078/75-korban-erupsi-gunung-marapi-ditemukan-23-meninggal-pencarian-resmi |access-date=7 December 2023 |website=KOMPAS.com |publisher=Kompas |language=id |archive-date=6 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206172648/https://regional.kompas.com/read/2023/12/06/235941078/75-korban-erupsi-gunung-marapi-ditemukan-23-meninggal-pencarian-resmi |url-status=live }}
See also
{{Portal|Indonesia|Earth sciences}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Volcanic eruptions in Indonesia}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marapi eruption, 2023}}
Category:2023 disasters in Indonesia
Category:December 2023 in Indonesia
Category:History of West Sumatra