Mount Marapi Eruption Highlights Risks and Limitations of Indonesia's Volcano Tourism

Despite the recent deadly eruption and subsequent volcanic activity, visiting volcanoes remains a popular tourist activity in Indonesia, prompting scrutiny of the country's early warning systems.

• Mount Marapi in Indonesia erupted, spewing ash more than 3,000 metres into the air and killing 23 people.
• Subsequent eruptions have occurred at four other volcanoes nationwide: Mount Merapi in Central Java, Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait, Ili Lewotolok in East Nusa Tenggara and Mount Dukono in North Maluku.
• Despite the dangers, visiting volcanoes is a big business in Indonesia, with 150,000 foreign travellers and three million domestic tourists climbing mountains in 2020.
• Indonesia's early warning systems for volcanic eruptions have come under scrutiny, with officials admitting that predicting eruptions remains imperfect.
• Indonesia is home to 127 active volcanoes, more than half of which are deemed prone to eruption and have early warning systems in place.

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