Fachri Hamzah, Padang – Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted on Tuesday morning, May 27, 2025, at 8:22 AM WIB. The volcanic ash column spewed up to a height of 1,100 meters above the peak or approximately 3,991 meters above sea level.
Ahmad Rifandi, an officer at the Mount Marapi Volcano Monitoring Post, stated that the ash column was directed toward the southeast or Tanah Datar. "The ash column is white to gray and very thick, leaning towards the southeast," he said.
This eruption was recorded in the seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 7.9 millimeters and lasted for 59 seconds. Currently, Mount Marapi remains at Alert Level II or Caution.
Rifandi urged residents and tourists not to enter the 3-kilometer radius from the Verbeek Crater, the center of Mount Marapi's activity. He added, "Residents living along riverbanks that originate from the peak of Mount Marapi must be cautious of the potential for lahar (volcanic mudflows), especially during the rainy season."
If ash falls, the public is advised to wear masks to prevent breathing problems. Rifandi also reminded everyone not to spread information that is not clear and to follow the instructions from the local government.
Meanwhile, Alfan Rahmat, the Chair of the Tanah Datar Tagana Forum, mentioned that ash had been falling in Tanah Datar for the past two days. About nine districts were affected: Limo Kaum, Pariangan, X Koto, Batipuh, Salimpaung, Rambatan, Tanjung Baru, and Sungai Tarab.
"Since yesterday around 3:00 PM Western Indonesian Time, there was also an eruption, and it also blew towards Tanah Datar," he told Tempo.
One of the impacts of this ashfall is on livestock feed, with some residents finding it difficult to source clean feed. There are also concerns about people contracting respiratory diseases due to the ash, especially given ongoing school and market activities. "Some residents are only using makeshift masks, particularly the schoolchildren," he noted.