AGAM, WEST SUMATRA — Mount Marapi, located in the Agam Regency of West Sumatra, erupted on Sunday (3/12/2023) at approximately 02:54 PM local time. By Thursday (7/12/2023) noon, the death toll from the Mount Marapi eruption had risen to 22, all of whom were climbers. Meanwhile, the search and evacuation of other victims by the disaster response team is ongoing.
In response to this natural disaster, Dompet Dhuafa, through its Disaster Management Center (DMC) in Singgalang, has deployed an assessment team. This team is tasked with gathering information about the current situation and identifying ways to assist local residents who are still in a state of emergency.
To date, the DMC team from Dompet Dhuafa has distributed numerous masks to children and residents in the vicinity of Mount Marapi. These medical masks are intended to mitigate the risk of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) that may result from ongoing volcanic ash emissions.
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Furthermore, the team has established a Warmth Post on the Mount Marapi Climbing Trail, benefiting 40 individuals.
The DMC team from Dompet Dhuafa has also participated in the evacuation process alongside a joint team from various rescue organizations, aiming to locate and rescue survivors of the eruption who have yet to be found.
“The team is heading to the Mount Marapi search point with a combined volunteer team,” reported Rizky Ilham Hidayat, a member of the Dompet Dhuafa Singgalang team at the disaster site.
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The local National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has advised residents near Mount Marapi to move away and seek temporary evacuation for their safety and as a precaution. This measure ensures that the community will be safer in the event of further eruptions. BNPB has established a safe radius of 3 km from the emergency site of the Mount Marapi eruption.
The search for survivors of the eruption who are still missing continues. It is possible that dozens of climbers remain isolated due to the eruption that has nearly enveloped the entirety of Mount Marapi.
The impact of the Mount Marapi eruption persists, with ashfall still affecting the Agam and Tanah Datar Regencies, the areas closest to the eruption site. The local BNPB has reported that residents in the vicinity of the eruption area urgently require masks to guard against ARI due to the continuing volcanic ash.
Based on the data gathered, the impact of the Mount Marapi eruption extends beyond the spread of volcanic ash to include ashfall accompanied by stones. The affected areas include the sub-districts of Canduang, Sungai Pua, Ampek-Ampek, and Malalak.
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“Ashfall accompanied by stones has been reported in the sub-districts of Banuhampu, Tilatang Kamang, Baso, Tanjung Raya, Lubuk Basung, IV Koto, Matur, Tanjung Mutiara, Palembayan, and Kamang Magek,” according to an official BNPB statement.
Children and the elderly in the vicinity of Mount Marapi, who are particularly vulnerable, continue to face threats from the impact of volcanic ash, which could lead to ARI if not adequately addressed and preemptively managed. Dear friends, let us come together and pray for the survivors of the Mount Marapi eruption. (Dompet Dhuafa/DMC/FZN)