1,000 Climbers Swarm Mt Marapi to Celebrate Independence Day
19 October 2018 14:03 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Padang - Around 1,000 mountain climbers have started hike on Mount Marapi in Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra by August 15 to celebrate Indonesian Independence Day that falls on Monday, August 17.
“Up until last night, there have been around a thousand mountain climbers,” said Coordinator of Bung Hatta Marapi outpost, Irfan on Sunday, August 15, adding that the climbers are coming from inside and outside of West Sumatra.
Safety measures have been implemented by keeping records of the climbers at the entrance gate. A number of volunteers are also taking part in monitoring security by establishing posts in several points toward the mountain top.
Although there has yet any information forbidding the climbing on the mountain, Irfan has warned the climbers not to approach the crater.
“There mustn’t any activities within the radius of 30 meters from the crater,” Irfan added.
On the other hand, a staff of Geological Disaster Mitigation and Volcanology Center (PVMBG), Hartanto said that Mt Marapi is currently in alert state. According to him, people are not allowed to enter area within 3 kilometers from the mountain top. Referring to the recommendation letter issued by PVMBG no. 1385/45/BGL.V/2011 dated August 3, 2011, Marapi has been in alert status since August 2011. The status has not been revoked up to date.
ANDRI EL FARUQI