Marapi is one of the most active volcanoes in Sumatra.

At least 11 hikers have been killed in the eruption of Marabi volcano on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Abdul Malik, head of national emergency services in Padang, the provincial capital, said 12 others were still missing in the Fire Mountain. About 50 other hikers were evacuated after the volcano erupted. It was not known at first how exactly the victims died.

The volcano, about 3,000 meters high, erupted early Sunday afternoon, spewing a cloud of ash about three kilometers high into the sky. The authorities then immediately established a three-kilometre exclusion zone around the crater. A shower of ash fell in different areas around the volcano. The sky also darkened at times. Residents were asked to stay in their homes.

One of the most active volcanoes

According to measurements, Marapi volcano erupted for approximately five minutes. According to the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazards (PVMBG), volcanic activity has increased since January. Marapi is one of the most active volcanoes in Sumatra. It last erupted in 2018. At that time, volcanic ash rose up to five kilometers above the crater’s height.

On the main Indonesian island of Java, there is a volcano with a very similar name: Merapi, which is one of the most dangerous volcanoes on Earth. The world’s largest island nation is located on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, the most geologically active region on Earth. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur frequently along this belt. There are about 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia.