JAKARTA, April 16 — Indonesia’s Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted this morning, sending volcanic ash 1.6km into the sky, while Mount Semeru in East Java recorded multiple eruptions on the same day, signalling heightened volcanic activity across the archipelago.
ANTARA News Agency reported that Mount Marapi erupted at 8.43am local time, sending a column of grey ash drifting towards the northeast, while authorities confirmed multiple eruptions at Mount Semeru earlier in the day.
“The ash column was grey with moderate intensity,” said Marapi Volcano Observation Post (PGA) officer Ilhamdi Saputra.
Mount Marapi, which rises 2,891m above sea level and is located on the border of Agam and Tanah Datar regencies in West Sumatra, is currently at Alert Level II.
Meanwhile, Mount Semeru, the highest volcano on Java island at 3,676m, erupted at least five times between 5.11am and 7.32am local time.
Semeru PGA officer Liswanto said the strongest eruption at 6.21am produced an ash column reaching 1,200m above the summit, with ash clouds drifting to the northeast.
Subsequent eruptions sent ash columns ranging between 500m and 1,100m in height, with plumes moving in various directions, including northeast and north.
Mount Semeru remains at Alert Level III.
