PADANG, Indonesia -- Mount Marapi, located in Indonesia's West Sumatra province, erupted on Sunday, spewing white-and-gray ash plumes more than 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) into the air. The volcanic activity led to the closure of climbing routes and the evacuation of stranded climbers.

Ahmad Rifandi, an official with Indonesia's Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center at the Marapi monitoring post, stated that no immediate casualties were reported. However, villagers residing on the slopes of the mountain were advised to stay at least 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) away from the crater's mouth due to the potential threat of lava.

Approximately 70 climbers had started their ascent of Mount Marapi on Saturday, with 28 successfully evacuated so far. The remaining climbers are awaiting rescue, according to Dian Indriati, the acting head of North Sumatra's conservation agency. A video circulating on social media shows the climbers being relocated to a shelter, their faces and hair covered in volcanic dust and rain.

Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Agency, reported that several villages in the area were blanketed with falling ash, leading to the blocking out of sunlight in many places. Local authorities have distributed masks and urged residents to wear eyeglasses for protection from the volcanic ash.

Marapi's alert level remains at the third-highest level out of four, indicating ongoing monitoring and potential volcanic activity. Abdul Muhari confirmed that sensors had detected an increase in activity in recent weeks, prompting close observation and precautionary measures.

Mount Marapi has been actively erupting since January, without causing any casualties. It is one of over 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, a country situated in the Pacific "Ring of Fire," known for its frequent seismic activity, consisting of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.