Why There is Still Climbing When Mount Marapi Erupts
Why the hiking trails are still open, are there no signs of?
Mount Marapi in Agam Regency and Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra, erupted on Sunday (3/12/2023) at 2:55 pm.
At the time of the eruption, there were 75 climbers who were climbing Mount Marapi. 52 climbers survived, but 23 other climbers were found dead.
As a result of the eruption, the West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) closed the Mount Marapi hiking trail temporarily until an undetermined time.
Many questions arose when Mount Marapi erupted, because the climbing route was still open, and there were many climbers who were climbing when the eruption occurred.
Generally, hiking trails on volcanoes will be closed if there is an increase in volcanic activity. Then why is the Mount Marapi hiking trail not closed, is there no sign or increase in volcanic activity on Mount Marapi?
According to Head of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) Hendra Gunawan, the status of Mount Marapi has been Waspada (Alert) Level 2 since 2011, and there is a ban on being within a 3 km radius of the peak.
The Alert Level 2 status means that the threat is only around the crater, so people are asked to stay away from the crater and peak within a 3 km radius. Meanwhile, if the status is Awas (Watch Out), the threat of eruption can reach residential areas so that evacuation must be carried out.
According to Hendra, Mount Marapi is a mountain whose eruption characteristics are difficult to detect early on, so PVMBG has set an alert status for Mount Marapi for a long period of time, and prohibits residents or climbers from approaching the peak.
The eruption of Mount Marapi is also generally sudden because the source is near the surface and does not come from deep magma movement.
The eruption that occurred on December 3 did not record any deep volcanic earthquakes indicating magma movement from within. This phenomenon indicates that the pressure accumulation that caused the eruption was at a shallow depth.
Because there is no process of increasing pressure that causes earthquakes, an eruption will be difficult to predict.
In early 2023, from January 7 to February 20, Mount Marapi also had an eruption. And since the eruption at the beginning of the year stopped until now the status of Mount Marapi is at Level 2 or Alert.
According to Dian Indriati, the daily executive of West Sumatra BKSDA, the opening of the Mount Marapi hiking trail has received support from related parties. Starting from the Agam Regional Government, Tanah Datar Regional Government, West Sumatra Provincial Tourism Office, BPBD, BASARNAS, Walinagari Batupalano, Walinagari Aie Angek, and Walinagari Kuto Tuo.
In addition, the BKSDA also has an SOP for climbing with certain restrictions, and also has a plan to deal with emergency situations. Dian emphasized that the opening of the Mount Marapi hiking trail during the Alert status was in accordance with the rules or SOP.
Meanwhile, the PVMBG only provides recommendations for the prohibition of approaching the peak and crater within a radius of 3 km, and does not have the authority to prohibit or allow climbing activities and approach the danger zone, because it is the authority of the local government.
The number of fatalities due to the eruption of Mount Marapi is believed to be caused by the sudden eruption. There are also indications of negligence from the licensee as well as many climbers who ignored PVMBG’s recommendation to stay away from the danger zone, namely the crater and peak of Marapi within a 3km radius.