TEMPO.CO, Padang - Mount Marapi in West Sumatera erupted on Wednesday, March 19, 2014, spewing volcanic ashes that affected its western area, including Puar and Batupalano Rivers. Until noon, today, Wednesday, March 19, 2014, the mountain has erupted thrice at 08.08, 11.15 and 13.40.
Hartanto, an observer with the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) for Bukittinggi, said the height of the eruptions was invisible as the mount was covered by haze.
Hartanto said the mountain’s seismic activity has been escalating recently. He added there had been 15 shallow volcanic tremors, 10 local tectonic activities and 40 distant tectonic tremors this month.
Mount Marapi, located between Tanah Datar and Agam Regencies, has erupted on a monthly basis since its status was raised to alert level on August 2011. The mountain once erupted and sent more than 1,000-meter tall volcanic ash, affecting its adjacent areas within a radius of 30 kilometers.
“Since it was declared on alert, people have not been allowed to do any activity near Mount Marapi within a three-kilometer radius,” Hartanto said.
ANDRI EL FARUQI
