Indonesia's Mount Marapi, a 2,891-meter-high volcano located in West Sumatra province, has erupted for the second time in weeks, according to the country's geological agency. The eruption started at 6 a.m. local time on Sunday, covering nearby houses, vehicles, and evacuation tents in volcanic ash.

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has issued a warning, urging residents and visitors to stay at least 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) away from the Verbeek Crater, where the eruption occurred. Additionally, people in nearby communities are advised to wear masks to protect themselves from falling ash.

The recent eruption follows a previous one on December 3, which resulted in the tragic deaths of 23 hikers who were on the mountain at the time. During that eruption, volcanic ash shot up to an impressive height of 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) above the crater.

As a precautionary measure, some residents have sought respiratory check-ups at local health facilities due to concerns about the impact of the volcanic ash on their respiratory systems.

Mount Marapi is known to be one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia, a country located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which houses 127 active volcanoes - more than any other region in the world.

Authorities and residents in the affected areas remain vigilant, closely monitoring the situation as they await further updates from the geological agency regarding the volcanic activity of Mount Marapi.