The smoke could be seen for a few minutes and then the volcano was not seen spewing smoke as a blanket of haze shrouded it, Jon, a resident of Sungaipuat in Agam district, West Sumatra, said.
Earlier, at around 06.00 a.m. on Thursday. the 2,891-meter high volcano also sent out smoke.
Since the volcano began showing signs of increased activity on August 3 last year, it has spewed smoke almost everyday.
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 declaring the volcano off-limits to anyone climbing within 3 km of its peak.
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.
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.
"The PVMBG has advised the residents living on the slope of the volcano not to climb within 3 km of its peak.
The volcano last erupted in 2005.
(S012/O001)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
