The death toll resulting from a volcanic eruption in Indonesia has risen to 22, as rescuers discovered an additional nine bodies. The search for the 10 missing hikers on Mount Marapi, initially halted due to safety concerns, resumed on Tuesday. By afternoon, officials reported the recovery of nine bodies, with one still missing, while twelve injured hikers received treatment in hospitals.
Rescue efforts faced challenges due to frequent volcanic eruptions, with Ahmad Rifandi, head of Marapi’s monitoring post, revealing five eruptions recorded on Tuesday alone. The volcano remains highly active, hindering visibility of the eruption column. Rescuers, seizing windows of relative calm, continue searching for the missing, planning to resume efforts for the last hiker on Wednesday.
The eruption on Sunday released a 3km ash cloud, affecting nearby villages. Of the 75 hikers in the area during the eruption, most were evacuated and treated for burns. Mount Marapi, known as the “Mountain of Fire,” is one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes and a popular destination for hikers. Trails had only recently reopened in June after ash eruptions from January to February. The deadliest eruption occurred in 1979, claiming 60 lives.
Video footage captured the extensive ash cloud spreading across the sky during Sunday’s eruption. Rescuers, facing challenging terrain, transported the deceased and injured down the mountain on Monday. Some victims suffered burns, with one hiker, Zhafirah Zahrim Febrina, sending a video message from the volcano, seeking help for her traumatic situation.
Marapi, situated on Sumatra, Indonesia’s third-largest island, stands at 2,891m high. The country, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences heightened volcanic and seismic activity due to the convergence of continental plates.
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