Indonesia’s Mount Marapi erupted on Sunday, December 3, ejecting an ash cloud which reached 3 km into the sky, blocking out sunlight and causing debris to cover nearby villages.
Marapi’s slopes are home to around 1,400 people, with the nearest villages being around 5 km from the peak.
The death toll is estimated to be 22, but search and rescue teams are still hunting for those who are missing. 50 people were evacuated from the mountainside when the eruption began, and eight of them were taken to hospital for serious injuries and burns. Here's all the latest information about travelling to Indonesia after the eruption.
Where is Mount Marapi?
Mount Marapi is the most active volcano on Sumatra Island, Indonesia – its name literally translates to ‘mountain of fire’. The Indonesian archipelago sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is a region along multiple tectonic fault lines with high seismic activity, and some of the world’s most active volcanoes.
Indonesia has 127 volcanoes, and the largest global population who live near one, at 8.6 million people.
When did the volcano erupt?
Sunday, December 3. The eruption was sudden, and though Marapi is one of the most active in the archipelago, activity is difficult to predict. We do know that the centre of pressure from where the eruption originated sits close to the ground’s surface.
Deep volcanic earthquakes were recorded only three times between November 16 and December 3 when the eruption happened. The head of the Centre of Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation, Heanra Gunawan, told the Associated Press that the eruption was not caused by a movement of magma.
Is it safe to travel to Indonesia?
The UK Foreign Office has only advised against two specific areas, so travelling to Indonesia is still generally safe. There is still a risk of terror attacks, particularly in crowded areas, which is heightened during festive periods. Women are generally safe but are encouraged to exercise caution, particularly in Bali and Jakarta. LGBTQ travellers should be cautious as though not illegal across most of Indonesia, homosexuality is considered a taboo topic.
What about Bali?
Bali is Indonesia’s most popular island – in the year preceding September 2023, it welcomed 4.8 international visitors. Thankfully, travel to the island remains unaffected as it sits 2,500 km away from Sumatra.
What areas have been affected by the Mount Marapi eruption?
The peak is located in western Sumatra. The nearby city of Bukittinggi, home to over 100,000 people, has been affected by ash alongside smaller villages in the region. Residents are being advised to wear sunglasses and masks to protect themselves against the ash.
Sumatra is around 435 kilometres from Singapore, but flights there remain unaffected so far.
What has the UK Foreign Office said?
The UK Foreign Office has not updated its Indonesia travel advice as of Sunday’s eruption. They specifically advise against travel to within three miles of both Mount Sinabung and Mount Semeru, and explain that you should research your destination thoroughly and get the appropriate travel insurance.
When was the last major eruption of Mount Marapi?
Mount Marapi has been erupting every two to four years since 2004, but the largest and most deadly eruption was in April 1979, which killed nearly 60 people.
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