Marapi volcano eruption: Death toll climbs to 22 as rescue mission continues in Indonesia

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Following the eruption of Indonesia’s Marapi volcano on Dec. 3, the death toll has risen to 22 as of Tuesday, after rescuers found the bodies of perished hikers near the crater of the Indonesian volcano. At least one person is still presumed missing.

Seventy-five people were reported to be in the area at the time Marapi spewed volcanic ash approximately 3,000 metres high on Monday. More than 50 of the missing hikers were “evacuated safely,” shortly after, according to the head of the region’s local search and rescue agency, Abdul Malik.

“From this morning till now, five eruptions have occurred,” Malik said in a Tuesday update. “And volcanic ash has fallen at the foot of our mountain, which will be one of the obstacles to the search team as it disrupts visibility. And the evacuation route to be taken is very steep and slippery,” he added.

Despite a brief pause on their rescue mission on Monday following safety concerns, approximately 200 rescue personnel will resume their search for the one missing hiker and any other potential victims on Wednesday.

Since the eruption, authorities have raised the alert to the second-highest level and prohibited residents from going within 3 km of the crater.

Marapi is considered one of the most active volcanoes on Sumatra island and killed 60 back in 1979. Indonesia sits on the Pacific's so-called "Ring of Fire" and has 127 active volcanoes, according to the volcanology agency.

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