Increased Activity, PVMBG Considers Raising Mount Marapi Status To Level III

Erupsi Gunung Marapi, Siumatra Barat (dok BNPB)

PADANG - Head of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) Hadi Wijaya said the agency was preparing to raise the status of Mount Marapi from Level II (Alert) to Level III (Alert) following the increase in volcanic activity.

"The activity of Mount Marapi is relatively high even though its status is Level II. But Level II is actually getting ready to go to Level III," said PVMBG Head Hadi Wijaya when contacted by ANTARA, Tuesday, February 4.

Hadi explained that during the third and fourth weeks of January 2025, the activity of Mount Marapi tended to increase, which was marked by 11 eruption earthquakes, 93 gusts, five non-harmonic tremors, two shallow volcanic earthquakes, nine deep volcanic earthquakes, 27 local tectonic earthquakes, 28 distant tectonic earthquakes and continuous tremors with an amplitude of 0.5-12 millimeters (eight millimeters dominance).

Given Marapi's activity which tended to increase during this period, Hadi regretted that there were still nine residents in West Sumatra Province who were still desperate to climb the 2,891 meter volcano above sea level (masl).

"The actions of illegal climbers who escape this supervision are very dangerous," he said.

For information, on January 19, 2025, nine illegal climbers were known to climb Mount Marapi in Agam Regency and Tanah Datar Regency. Two of them are local residents who also act as guides to get to the top of the volcano.

"People must care more and love their own lives," he said.

Previously, the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) of West Sumatra Province imposed a ban on climbing nine illegal climbers who were proven to have climbed Mount Marapi, which has now been permanently closed.

Specifically, two guides who are also local residents were sentenced to three years of not being allowed to climb all the mountains under the auspices of the West Sumatra Province BKSDA. Meanwhile, six other climbers were sentenced to one year.

The sanctions in the form of a ban on climbing apply effectively when Mount Marapi, Mount Singgalang, Mount Tandikat, and Mount Sago Malintang are reopened to the public.