Marapi eruption: Hikers recount escape from 'Mountain of Fire'

'Initially, smoke was the only thing visible, then rocks began to rain down, followed by ash. There was no prior warning,' recounts hiker Irvanda Mulya. Irvanda and a group of 17 friends had meticulously planned a climb up Mount Marapi, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, for over a month. However, their anticipated fun expedition took a fatal turn last weekend.

Marapi, translating to 'Mountain of Fire' in the local Minang language, erupted violently on Sunday, spewing scalding hot ash and rocks into the atmosphere. The eruption resulted in the tragic death of 23 people due to severe burns, including 12 members of Irvanda's group. Irvanda and his friend, Muhammad Fadli, managed to survive the catastrophe but sustained extensive injuries. They narrated their harrowing experience to the BBC.

The group, primarily composed of school friends, had decided to hike Marapi for recreational purposes. While the majority were seasoned mountaineers, seven of them were embarking on a mountain climb for the first time. Marapi seemed like a logical choice as it was conveniently located near their hometown, Padang. Marapi is one of the 127 volcanoes in Indonesia, situated on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire', a region notorious for its high volcanic and seismic activity.