The eruption of Mount Marapi in western Indonesia has resulted in the tragic loss of at least 11 hikers, as confirmed by a local rescue official to AFP. The volcano, situated on Sumatra Island, erupted on Sunday, spewing a towering column of ash roughly 3,000 meters into the sky.

Abdul Malik, the head of the Padang Search and Rescue Agency, reported that among the 26 individuals yet to be evacuated, 14 have been located, with three found alive and eleven unfortunately found deceased. Initially, 75 hikers had been on the mountain since Saturday, with rescue workers tirelessly striving to locate them.

According to Malik, twelve people are still missing, while 49 have successfully descended, with some requiring medical attention.

Rescue teams, including West Sumatra’s natural resources conservation agency, are working diligently, even through the night, to aid the safe descent of the mountaineers.

Rudy Rinaldi, head of the West Sumatra Disaster Mitigation Agency, highlighted that rescued hikers are receiving medical care, particularly for burns, as those closer to the crater endured intense heat.

Mount Marapi was at the second alert level in Indonesia’s four-step system, prompting authorities to establish a three-kilometer exclusion zone around its crater.

Indonesia, positioned on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is prone to significant volcanic and seismic activity due to the convergence of continental plates. The country hosts nearly 130 active volcanoes.

The eruption of Mount Marapi has brought tragedy to the hiking community and highlighted the country’s susceptibility to natural disasters due to its geographic location.