"As of Tuesday at 8:22 p.m. local time, the DVI team members have identified 11 bodies," Head of the West Sumatra Police's Medical and Health Center Senior Commissioner drg. Lisda Cancer stated.
Speaking in Bukittinggi City, she said that almost all hikers who died or survived Sunday's eruption suffered from burns. Bodies of the dead hikers were sent to Achmad Mochtar Public Hospital for identification process.
A joint team of 50 doctors got involved in identifying the bodies. They are deployed from several police precincts and hospitals in West Sumatra and Riau Islands, as well as National Police headquarters in Jakarta, Cancer remarked.
Mount Marapi erupted on Sunday at about 2:54 p.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB). The eruption reportedly left 75 hikers trapped on the slopes of the volcano.
According to Cancer, the number of hikers who survived the eruption was recorded at 52, while 23 others got killed.
Located between the administrative areas of the districts of Agam and Tanah Datar in West Sumatra Province, Mount Marapi is classified as one of the most active volcanoes on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Residents of Karo District in North Sumatra Province have also reported recurring eruptions at Mount Sinabung since 2013.
After Mt. Sinabung erupted on November 12, 2013, at least 5,962 people living near the volcano's foothills, most of whom were farmers, were evacuated to safer areas.
Related news: 11 climbers found dead on Mount Marapi, rescue undergoing: SAR office
Related news: Ministry asks public not to panic following Mt. Marapi eruption
Translator: M.Zulfikar, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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