A dramatic eruption of Mount Marapi in West Sumatra, Indonesia, sent residents fleeing from their homes after a powerful boom echoed across nearby villages on Wednesday morning, July 23.

The volcano, located on the border between Agam and Tanah Datar regencies, erupted at around 7:23 am local time, sending a towering column of ash into the sky.

Footage filmed by a local resident, Latif, from Gurun village in Bukik Batabuah, shows startled villagers pausing their morning routines and rushing outside in panic as the eruption unfolded in real-time.

"I was riding my motorcycle to work when I heard a loud explosion. I looked back and saw Mount Marapi erupting again," Latif told Newsflare when interviewed at his workplace on Tuesday, July 29.

A dramatic eruption of Mount Marapi in West Sumatra, Indonesia, sent residents fleeing from their homes after a powerful boom echoed across nearby villages on Wednesday morning, July 23, 2025.

The volcano, located on the border between Agam and Tanah Datar regencies, erupted at around 7:23 AM local time, sending a towering column of ash into the sky.

Footage filmed by a local resident, Latif, from Gurun village in Bukik Batabuah, shows startled villagers pausing their morning routines and rushing outside in panic as the eruption unfolded in real-time.

"I was riding my motorcycle to work when I heard a loud explosion. I looked back and saw Mount Marapi erupting again," Latif told Newsflare when interviewed at his workplace on Tuesday, July 29.

Roughly 30 minutes after the eruption, shifting winds blew volcanic ash toward nearby settlements, including Latif’s village. Two villages were blanketed in fine to moderate ash fall, reducing visibility and prompting residents to wear masks.

The eruption was recorded by the Marapi Volcano Observation Post (PGA) in Bukittinggi, operated by Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG). The ash plume reached approximately 1,600 meters above the crater, with seismic instruments capturing an eruption amplitude of 30.5 mm and a duration of 78 seconds.

Ahmad Rifandi, head of the PGA Marapi Post, urged residents to stay vigilant and follow safety recommendations. “We advise the public to remain outside a 3-kilometer radius from the crater, be alert for possible lahars during rainfall, and wear protective masks during ashfall,” he said.

Throughout July 2025, Mount Marapi has shown elevated activity with a total of nine eruptions and 12 volcanic gas emissions. The most intense day of activity occurred on July 14, with two eruptions and two emissions recorded. The July 23 event marks the ninth eruption this month.

The volcano remains under Alert Level II (Advisory), indicating ongoing activity that may lead to further eruptions.