Death toll rises to 23 after surprise eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Marapi

International

6-12-2023, 08:25

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INA- SOURCES

Rescuers searching the hazardous slopes of Indonesia’s Mount Marapi volcano found the last body of climbers who were caught by a surprise weekend eruption, raising the number of confirmed dead to 23, officials said Wednesday.

About 75 climbers started their way up the nearly 9,480-foot mountain in Agam district of West Sumatra province on Saturday and became stranded.

Some 52 climbers were rescued after the initial eruption Sunday, and 11 others were initially confirmed dead. New eruptions on Monday and Tuesday spewed more hot ash as high as 2,620 feet into the air, reducing visibility and temporarily halting search and recovery operations, said Abdul Malik, chief of the Padang Search and Rescue Agency.

The bodies of two climbers were located on Monday and nine more on Tuesday, the National Search and Rescue Agency said.

West Sumatra’s Police Chief Suharyono said the body of the last climber was found early Wednesday, just a few yards from the eruption site, bringing the death toll to 23.

SOURCE: NBC NEWS