Did you know there are at least 1,350 active volcanoes around the world, and roughly 20 active volcanic eruptions on any given day? While many of them occur deep under the ocean – most volcanoes are found at the edges of the Pacific Plate, a horseshoe-shaped zone known as the Ring of Fire – occasionally violent outbursts of smoke, ash and lava happen on land and cause catastrophic damage and kill anyone in their path. In early December 2023, Mount Marapi in West Sumatra, Indonesia erupted, with 23 people dead or presumed dead.

Read on for more about Mount Marapi's recent eruption...