Bukittinggi, W Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Mount Marapi, which is located between Agam District and Tanah Datar District of West Sumatera Province, has erupted 45 times since Sunday (June 4), with volcanic dust reaching various heights.

According to the officer of Volcanic Monitor Post in Marapi, Hartanto, here on Tuesday, the latest eruptions occurred five times on Tuesday from 00.01 am to 06.00 am.

The officer noted that the mount erupted six times last Sunday and 34 times on Monday.

"The Marapi erupted and spurted volcanic dust as well as caused volcanic earthquake. The status is at level II," Hartanto remarked.

Hartanto stated that the eruption was still in medium alert.

He added that Marapi had been under alert since Aug 2011, and it showed a lot of shallow volcanic activity for the past two months.

"We ask people to refrain from any activity at a radius of 3 kilometers till the peak. We warn the climbers too," Hartanto revealed.

The officer noted that there were no residents who lived within the radius of 3 kilometers to the peak.

Additionally, the Head of West Sumatra Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency Nasridal Patria remarked that at least four districts and cities have prepared to handle the eruption.

The districts that are prone to eruption impact include Tanah Datar, Agam, Bukittinggi City, and Padang Panjang.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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