BATU PALANO, Indonesia — The search for additional casualties following the eruption of Indonesia's Mount Marapi has concluded, with officials confirming 23 fatalities and multiple injuries from the weekend incident. The volcano, located in West Sumatra province, erupted on Sunday while approximately 75 climbers were ascending the nearly 2,900-meter mountain. The body of a female university student found on Wednesday raised the death toll to 23, prompting authorities to believe that all victims have been accounted for.
West Sumatra Police Chief Suharyono initially reported the discovery of the student's body, and later assessments led to the decision to terminate the search and rescue operation by late Wednesday, according to Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency. The National Search and Rescue Agency confirmed that all recovered bodies had been transported to a hospital for identification.
Following the eruption, 52 climbers were rescued, with around a dozen individuals receiving medical attention for injuries of varying severity. Marapi's eruption on Sunday sent ash columns soaring as high as 3 kilometers, and ash clouds extended for several kilometers, impacting nearby villages and towns. Volcanic debris obscured sunlight, leading authorities to advise the use of masks for protection against the ash.
Subsequent smaller eruptions continued to release ash into the air, hampering visibility and temporarily suspending search and recovery operations. Mount Marapi is known for unpredictable eruptions not linked to deep magma movements that typically trigger seismic activity. The volcano has maintained Indonesia's second-highest alert level since 2011, indicating heightened volcanic activity. Climbers and residents are required to stay more than 3 kilometers from the peak.
Despite warnings, local officials acknowledged that some individuals may have ventured into restricted zones. Mount Marapi is one of over 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, a country situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," characterized by frequent seismic events due to its position within an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.