The volcano last erupted in 2005.Bukittingi, W Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Mount Marapi in West Sumatra province spewed volcanic ash up to 500 meters into the sky on Sunday morning.
"The volcano spewed volcanic ash for about 10 minutes starting at around 08.30 a.m.," Mubarak, who lived on the slope of the volcano said on Sunday.
"The volcanic ash fell on around the volcano`s slope," he said.
Before spewing volcanic ash, the 2,891-meter high volcano released white thick smoke as high as 50 meters from its crater, he said.
Since its alert status was raised on August 3, 2011, the volcano had spewed white smoke and volcanic ash almost everyday, he said.
The Bukittinggi Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) still maintains the volcano`s alert status at the second highest alert level.
"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," PVMBG officer Warseno said.
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)
Editor: Ella Syafputri
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