Indonesia’s ‘Mountain of Fire’ Claims 22 Lives in Violent Volcanic Activity

Tuesday 05 December 2023 - 16:21

By: Dakir Madiha

Indonesia’s ‘Mountain of Fire’ Claims 22 Lives in Violent Volcanic Activity

With the recovery of additional bodies, the death toll from the volcanic eruptions on Mount Marapi in Indonesia over the past weekend has now reached 22.

After confirming thirteen fatalities during the weekend, nine bodies previously reported as missing were discovered on Tuesday following a search interruption caused by additional eruptions and adverse weather conditions.

Antara News reported a total of 46 eruptions between Sunday and Monday from Mount Marapi, the most active volcano on Sumatra Island.

Abdul Malik, the chief of the Padang Search and Rescue Agency, informed AFP that "one victim is currently being located and is undergoing evacuation at this time."

On Monday, search and rescue teams worked to descend the deceased and injured individuals, some of whom suffered burns from the intense heat, down the treacherous slopes of the mountain.

During the destructive eruption on Sunday, the volcano emitted ashes reaching altitudes of 3,000 meters (9,800 feet). Nearby towns and villages were covered in tons of volcanic debris, leading authorities to advise residents to protect themselves with coverings.

On Sunday, a minimum of fifty climbers were rescued following the initial eruption, and eleven fatalities were subsequently confirmed. On Monday, an eruption propelled heated air to an altitude of 800 meters (2,600 feet).

Known as the 'Mountain of Fire,' Mount Marapi is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia. Sunday's eruption marked the deadliest since 1979 when sixty people lost their lives.

Mount Marapi has been in an active state since January, following a non-fatal eruption. Indonesia's 120 active volcanoes are prone to frequent seismic activity, especially considering their location in the "Ring of Fire," an arc of fault lines and volcanoes in the Pacific Basin.