The recent eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Marapi has raised concerns about the safety of tourists visiting the volcano in West Sumatra. Here are the key points:

– A local ranger named Ajo expressed concerns about increased volcanic activity but authorities did not take action, resulting in 24 fatalities during the eruption.

– Ajo, a former tour guide on the mountain, had stopped working there after a dispute with the environmental conservation agency in December 2022.

– The mountain has a history of violent eruptions, and the agency’s management and safety measures are now under investigation.

– Concerns have been raised about the government’s decision to open the mountain for tourism, with allegations that safety was ignored for economic reasons.

– Local guides who raised safety issues were replaced by guides from outside the area who were unfamiliar with the terrain and the volcano’s volatility.

– Authorities deny any negligence and attribute the management policy to government regulations, but locals insist that safety should be prioritised over economic gain.