Inp.polri.go.id – West Sumatra. On Sunday, December 3rd, 2023, without much of a warning, Mount Marapi of West Sumatra suddenly erupted. Climbers who were on the mountain turned pale with the deafening sound of the eruption and some of them immediately resigned themselves as the ash and rocks pouring down the mountain. Ahmad Rifandi, the official of Mount Marapi watcher confirmed the grim news as he adds that the eruption occurred at 14:53. “The height of the ash column could not be observed as it was covered by clouds. Meanwhile, the eruption radius is still at 3 kilometers with the disaster level still at alert,” quote Ahmad Rifandi as reported by RRI on Sunday (12/3/2023). Following the eruption, local community advised not to go near the eruption radius area. Public are implored to wear hat, glasses, jacket, and mask if had to go outside the house. “We estimate the eruption would go to Lasi, Candung, Agam Regency. We advise you to always be vigilant while outside,” adds Rifandi. One of the locals, Novelhya Wirda, told her story during the ashfall around 15:00 pm. “I thought it was rain. But when I went outside, I saw it was raining stones. I smelled a strong sulfur,” he explains. She states before the ashfall, there were two earthquakes followed by thunderous sound. Currently, most locals chose to stay inside their house to cover themselves from the ashes. (ad/ek/pr/nm)