Why is it in the News?

The bodies of 11 climbers were recovered on Monday a day after a furious eruption of the Mount Marapi volcano as Indonesian rescuers searched for 12 apparently still missing.

About Mount Marapi:

Don't confuse it with Mount Merapi, which is located on Java Island.

• ‘Mount Marapi’ located is a volcanic mountain located in West Sumatra of Indonesia.
• It also known as Marapi or Gunuang Marapi in Minangkabau.
• According to legend, the mountain is the site first settled by the Minangkabau people after their ship landed on the mountain when it was the size of an egg and surrounded by water.
• There are large numbers of upright burial stones in the region which are oriented in the direction of the mountain, indicating its cultural significance.
• A significant eruption occurred in 1979, and in April-May 2018, ashfalls to the southeast were recorded.

About Mount Merapi:

• Mount Merapi is a volcanic mountain on the island of Java in Indonesia and is the most active volcano in Indonesia (out of a total of 30 active volcanoes).
• Although Mount Merapi was discovered by humans in 1754, geologists have estimated that the volcanic mountain is over 400,000 years old.
• The last major eruption of Mount Merapi back in 2010. This eruption took the lives of 347 people, and a further 20,000 locals were forced to evacuate the area.
• The local name for Mount Merapi is Gunung Merapi which can be translated to Fire Mountain or Mountain of Fire.
• Mount Merapi is considered sacred by local people. They believe that a supernatural kingdom exists there.
• Mount Merapi has erupted countless times, which haven't been recorded in modern history.
  • However, we do know that Merapi has erupted over 68 since 1548.
  • Merapi has now been active for approximately 10,000 years.