Indonesia: Eruption occurs at Mount Marapi in West Sumatra Province Dec. 3

A significant eruption occurred at Mount Marapi in West Sumatra Province at around 14:54 on Dec. 3 Nov. 20. The eruption produced a volcanic ash plume that rose to an estimated altitude of 3,000 meters (9,800 feet), spreading volcanic ash to nearby districts; ashfall has been observed in several locations, including Bukittinggi city. There have been no initial reports of casualties or damage. Due to the eruption, Indonesian authorities have placed Marapi on the third highest alert level in a four-tier system and established an exclusion zone 3km (1.8 miles) around the crater. Reports indicate authorities have evacuated several communities around the volcano. Additional eruptions could cause low-level seismic activity, ash clouds, pyroclastic flows, and landslides in the surrounding area. The Marapi Volcano could emit further gas and ash clouds in the coming days.

Further volcanic activity may impact air quality in West Sumatra Province and neighboring areas. Air quality could become a concern, particularly in areas near the crater following an explosive event. Individuals in the region - especially those with underlying pulmonary conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or lung cancers - may experience difficulty breathing and could suffer from lower tolerance to physical exertion.

Road conditions could quickly deteriorate during periods of significant ashfall, and visibility could be reduced. Officials might close roads near the volcano depending on the presence of hazardous volcanic material. Fine particulate matter ejected from the volcano could pose a hazard to flights in the surrounding airspace; as of Dec. 3, flights at the closest main airport to Marapi, Minangkabau International (PDG), serving Padang, are operating as normal. Disruptions are possible if eruptive activity continues and winds direct ash clouds toward the airports.