Efforts to locate the final missing hiker are being intensified following the eruption of Mount Marapi in Indonesia.
Indonesian rescuers are diligently searching for the remaining missing hiker, as optimism diminishes three days after the eruption of Mount Marapi tragically resulted in the loss of 22 lives. The volcano on Sumatra island released a substantial ash plume reaching a height of 3,000 meters on Sunday, during which 75 individuals were hiking nearby. The Mt. Marapi explosion on Sunday was the deadliest since 1979 when an eruption killed 60 people.
Despite the difficult conditions, numerous rescuers have committed several days to the task of locating the missing hikers. The demanding search has been impeded by further eruptions and unfavourable weather conditions, leading to occasional breaks for the workers to seek shelter.
Abdul Malik, head of the Padang search and rescue agency, explained the suspicions, saying: "There have been many rumours and unclear reports. Let us be clear, we still do not know the whereabouts of this victim."
While West Sumatra Police Chief Suharyono indicated on Tuesday evening that the last hiker had died, rescue officials on the ground have not confirmed this information. "Twenty-three people are suspected to have died. We all prayed that they would all be saved, but there was nothing we could do; God and nature had made a decision," Suharyono said.
Survivors recounted their harrowing experiences, with one hiker, Ridho, describing the chaos of the eruption. “The outburst sounded loud, I looked behind me and then immediately ran away like everyone else. Some jumped and fell. I took cover behind the rocks, there were no trees.”
According to General Suharyono, it is worth mentioning that among the group of 75 hikers, two individuals happened to be police officers. Regrettably, one of them sustained a broken arm, while the status of the other individual is still uncertain.
According to Hendra Gunawan, representing Indonesia's volcanology agency, it has been noted since 2011 that Mount Marapi is currently at the second level of a four-tier alert system. Additionally, there is a three-kilometre exclusion zone surrounding the volcano's crater. It appears that Gunawan suggests that the incident may have occurred due to hikers disregarding the agency's recommendations and venturing too close to the crater.
As the search continues, it is worth noting that Indonesia often experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where tectonic plates collide. Mount Marapi, one of the archipelago's most active volcanoes, is among the many contributing to the presence of nearly 130 active volcanic peaks in the country.
PC: Reuters
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