Eleven individuals lost their lives tragically while climbing Mount Merapi in West Sumatra, Indonesia, when the volcano suddenly erupted. Mount Merapi is situated in an area known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, where several active volcanoes exist. The specifics about the climbers’ identities and exact locations during the eruption remain unknown.
The eruption caused Mount Merapi to expel a significant amount of ash into the air, creating a dense, grey column that drifted towards the east. Hendra Gunawan, the head of Indonesia’s Centre of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, provided this description of the ash cloud.
Standing tall at 2,891 meters, Mount Merapi is recognized as one of the more active volcanoes in the region, attracting climbers to its various popular trails and routes. Alongside the tragic loss of 11 climbers, three individuals were found alive, but the whereabouts of 12 others remain uncertain and they are considered missing.
Due to this devastating event, authorities have closed all climbing routes and trails in the vicinity as a safety precaution.
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