Eruption at Marapi volcano covers Bukittinggi in ashfall, Indonesia

Mount Marapi erupted on Wednesday, November 6, covering areas of Bukittinggi and the adjacent districts, particularly in the north and northeast, with volcanic ash. 

Local reports indicated that the ashfall began at around 06:00 LT and continued until 09:00 LT on Wednesday.

“The ash has not only stuck to vehicles but also on clothing when outdoors,” said the Emergency and Disaster Management Subdivision Head of Padang Panjang’s BPBD, Irelisofa.

“When riding, my eyes stung. So, I had to wear glasses, close my helmet, and, of course, wear a mask,” she said. 

“The volcanic ash has also reached Baso, an area in Agam Regency.” 

Before this eruption, Mount Marapi had already shown signs of increased activity. Since early October 2024, seismic indicators revealed substantial volcanic activity, including 28 harmonic tremors, 77 non-harmonic tremors, and 173 deep volcanic earthquakes. 

These events, alongside an increase in shallow earthquakes since October 16, 2024, suggested a build-up of pressure from the rising magma within the volcano. 

“This indicates a strengthening magma pressure that could trigger an eruption at any time,” said Muhammad Wafid, head of the Geological Agency.

Two eruptions occurred on November 5, and there was significant seismic activity, including ten blast quakes, one shallow volcanic quake, and eleven local tectonic quakes. 

While the eruption was not visible due to cloud cover, it was recorded on a seismograph with an amplitude of 30 mm (1.18 inches) and a duration of around 4 minutes and 35 seconds. 

The ashfall has disrupted daily life, with many using protective masks to safeguard themselves from harmful particles. Residents near Mount Marapi’s base reported hearing tremendous booms during the eruption.

Mount Marapi is located in West Sumatra, Indonesia, and its Alert Level is at 2 of 4 — indicating a higher danger of eruption but not yet an emergency.

Authorities have recommended that inhabitants within a 3 km (2 miles) radius of the Verbeek crater avoid the region owing to the chance of more eruptions or dangerous lahar flows, as the rainy season increases the likelihood of mudflows.

In the event of an ashfall, residents should wear masks to cover their noses and mouths to prevent respiratory issues and use other protective equipment to shield their eyes and skin from the ash. 

Additionally, it is essential to secure clean water sources and regularly clear rooftops of thick volcanic ash to prevent structural collapse. 

Citizens are encouraged to follow local authorities’ guidance closely and stay updated.

Marapi is the island’s most active volcano, rising 2 885 m (9 465 feet) above the Bukittinggi Plain. It is a complex stratovolcano that sits within the small 1 km (0.6 miles) wide Bancah caldera.

The summit of Marapi features multiple overlapping craters aligned along an east-northeast to west-southwest line, with volcanic activity gradually shifting toward the western side.

Since the late 18^th century, Marapi has been the site of over 50 recorded eruptions, which are typically small to moderate in scale and characterized by explosive activity.

There have been no lava flows outside the summit craters in recent history.

The region surrounding the volcano is densely populated, with significant populations within 10 to 30 km (6 to 18 miles) of its summit.

References:

¹ Gunung Marapi kembali Erupsi, Kota Bukittinggi dihujani abu vulkanik – Antara Sumbar – November 6, 2024

² Marapi, Tuesday – November 05, 2024, period 00:00-24:00 WIB – Magma Indonesia – November 5, 2024

³ Gunung Marapi Erupsi, Abu Vulkanik hingga Bukittinggi dan Agam – Berita Satu – November 6, 2024

⁴ Marapi geological summary – GVP – Accessed November 6, 2024

Harsha Borah

Harsha Borah is an experienced content writer with a proven track record in the industry. Harsha has worked with LitSpark Solutions and Whateveryourdose, honing skills in creating engaging content across various platforms. A gold medalist in a state-level writing competition organized by Assam Tourism, Harsha’s travelogue on Tezpur was widely appreciated. Harsha’s article, "The Dark Tale of the Only Judge in India to Be Hanged," ranks second on Google and has garnered over 11 000 views and 8 900 reads on Medium. Outside of writing, Harsha enjoys reading books and solving jigsaw puzzles.

This author does not have any more posts.