The ash was expected to fall on parts of Limo Suku and Nagari Sungaipuar in Agam district, West Sumatra.
Spokesman of the Bukittinggi Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) Suparmo said the 2,891-meter high volcano began to spew thick volcanic ash at 11.35 a.m.
"Since the volcanic ash disappeared, the volcano has not again erupted. Yesterday morning the volcano also spewed ash," he said.
"PVMBG still recommends keeping the volcano at the second highest alert status and declaring it off-limits to anyone climbing within 3 km of its peak," he said.
He added that the volcano has spewed thick smoke and volcanic ash almost every day since it began showing signs of increased activity on August 3, 2011.
Mt Marapi is one of the active volcanoes in West Sumatra. It sent out sulfuric volcanic ash 1,000 meters into the sky on August 3 last year. The ash fell onto a number of areas, such as Agam, Tanahdatar, Padangpariaman, and Padangpanjang.
The volcano last erupted in 2005.
When inactive, the mountains adjacent to Mt Singgalang and Mt Tandikek have always been a destination for climbers from within and outside West Sumatra. Also, every New Years, it is always crowded with mountain climbers.
(S012/INE/H-YH)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
