19: Mt Marapi spews thin grey smoke: second volcano in Sumatra erupts

January 8, 2014 – Bukittinggi, West Sumatra – Mount Marapi in West Sumatra, Indonesia expelled thin grey smoke up to 200 meters from the crater into the sky, on Wednesday morning, stated spokesman of the Bukittinggi Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency (PVBMG) Warseno. “The volcano spewed smoke after it showed signs of increased activity at 7.28 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Local residents should therefore, continue to stay alert,” he warned.  The volcano, located in the Tanahdatar and Agam districts, West Sumatra, remains on the second highest alert level. People living within 3-km radius of the crater are banned from climbing the volcano. Mt Marapi is one of the active volcanoes in West Sumatra. It had sent out sulfuric volcanic ash, one thousand meters into the sky, on August 3, 2011. The ash had fallen over several areas, such as Agam, Tanahdatar, Padangpariaman and Padangpanjang. The volcano is also considered a conservation area as well as a tourist destination in West Sumatra. When inactive, the mountains adjacent to Mount Singgalang and Mount Tandikek have always been a destination for climbers from within and outside West Sumatra. During every New Year, it is gets crowded with trekkers. –Antara