Monday, 18 March 2013
Sunday, 25 November 2012
Bronggang – Impact of 2010 Mt. Merapi Eruption
Learning and Reflections from Bronggang: Preparedness is Key
Bronggang is a village approximately 15km from Mt. Merapi, and offers a lesson on the importance of preparedness and vigilance in the shadow of an active volcano. The learning that can be gleaned from this site is invaluable, as the eerie alien landscape of a devastated village buried in pyroclastic material stands silently as a memorial of the limits of human preparedness.
1. There were many casualties in the village of Bronggang as the order to evacuate was not given until it was too late (45 killed). According to eye witnesses, the village headman was still at a meeting, discussing if the order of evacuation was to be given.
2. Many people felt that Bronggang would not be affected by the eruption, as there was no historical record of pyroclastic material hitting the locality. The government had also built an evacuation center near the village, leading to many thinking that Bronggang would be a safe place to flee to in the event of an eruption. The psychological impact of perceived safety may have lulled the villagers into complacency.
Currently, there are no plans to restore Bronggang; it is a silent reminder of the limitations of human preparedness. Living in the shadow of Mt. Merapi is indeed a dance with death. However, the deluge of pyroclastic material and subsequent lahar flows has provided ample valuable natural resources for the adjacent village. Fertile soils still provide farming opportunities, and the volcanic sand is plumbed by sand miners.
Ever opportunistic, people who live in the shadow of Mt. Merapi have learnt to find boon in adversity.
Bronggang is a village approximately 15km from Mt. Merapi, and offers a lesson on the importance of preparedness and vigilance in the shadow of an active volcano. The learning that can be gleaned from this site is invaluable, as the eerie alien landscape of a devastated village buried in pyroclastic material stands silently as a memorial of the limits of human preparedness.
1. There were many casualties in the village of Bronggang as the order to evacuate was not given until it was too late (45 killed). According to eye witnesses, the village headman was still at a meeting, discussing if the order of evacuation was to be given.
2. Many people felt that Bronggang would not be affected by the eruption, as there was no historical record of pyroclastic material hitting the locality. The government had also built an evacuation center near the village, leading to many thinking that Bronggang would be a safe place to flee to in the event of an eruption. The psychological impact of perceived safety may have lulled the villagers into complacency.
Currently, there are no plans to restore Bronggang; it is a silent reminder of the limitations of human preparedness. Living in the shadow of Mt. Merapi is indeed a dance with death. However, the deluge of pyroclastic material and subsequent lahar flows has provided ample valuable natural resources for the adjacent village. Fertile soils still provide farming opportunities, and the volcanic sand is plumbed by sand miners.
Ever opportunistic, people who live in the shadow of Mt. Merapi have learnt to find boon in adversity.
The evacuation sign...that did not lead to safety
Sand miners taking a break
House destroyed by pyroclastic fallout
Investigation into nature of deposits: pyroclastic or lahar material
(notice cloud of loose material blown away by the wind: the deposits are still loose, 2 years on)
House partially buried in pyroclast and ash fallout
Interior of a house destroyed by ash fallout
Destroyed house, with partial revegetation visible in middle ground
Extent of damage to houses caused by pyroclastic fallout
Padi fields nourished by volcanic ash deposits
EOS and NIE staff exploring Bronggang
Remains of a tree blasted apart by the extreme heat of the pyroclastic flow
Poignant reminder of the frailty of life
School visit and BPPTK (Merapi Observatory) Mitigation efforts, what can be done to reduce risk
Learning and Reflections from School Visit (SMP Negiri 1)
& BPPTK (Merapi Observatory)
The visit to SMP Negiri 1 provided some rich learning for us to understand how the locals, living in the shadow of Mt. Merapi, coped with the most recent eruption in 2010. Here are some snapshots of the mitigation taken by the locals and how the community supported the rebuilding of lives, 2 years down:
1. The school was closed and evacuation was done from the area as SMP Negiri was within the evacuation zone announced by the local authorities. This prompt and quick response to the instructions given by the authorities allowed the school to be used as a emergency point for disaster relief.
2. During the 2010 eruption from Mt. Merapi, ash falls covered the school and this was evidenced by the thick layers of ash by the sides of the roads leading up to the school. 2 years down, the ash has not quite been removed from the vicinity of the school...BUT the school itself was operational and all volcanic deposits within the school have been removed, thanks to the collaborative effort of students and the local community.
3. The last eruption in 2010 from Mt. Merapi left many people homeless and they had to shift into temporary shelters. At the time of the school visit, many of the students were still staying in temporary shelters. However, many of them do not show signs of emotional trauma and instead display a resilience and a cheerful disposition. This resilience in the face of challenges is most heartening!
Hearing from the Principal's perspective, it is amazing how swiftly the local government acts on to, and with expert logistical help, evacuate the locales that are within the danger zone. The deployment of the army and police, ever-ready for disaster relief and evacuation, is something that helps to reduce the unnecessary loss of human lives.
At the BPPTK (Merapi Observatory), we were treated to sights of a different nature:
The Merapi Observatory is a scientific laboratory and monitoring station all rolled into one. Primarily, it houses equipment to monitor critical locations on and around Mt. Merapi; BPPTK serves as an advanced warning post to broadcast information to the local authorities, so that evacuation can be done to minimise loss of lives in the event of an eruption from Merapi.
1. BPPTK staff are extremely fit...because they are on rotation to climb Mt. Merapi and maintain critical monitoring equipment: these equipment relay visual and non-visual information (such as temperature, chemical and seismic activity) to the main office of BPPTK. Even during lull periods, the staff keep themselves entertained by playing badminton!
2. BPPTK makes use of advanced technology such as high-definition CCTVs and computerised seismographs in its efforts to monitor seismic and volcanic activity near Mt. Merapi. They even have backup power generators to ensure that the equipment remain operational in the event of electrical power loss from the main power stations. However, they still rely on tried and tested "ancient" technology, such as the kinemetric seismograph. There is never too much effort and preparation to ensure that the proper monitoring of Mt. Merapi is carried out.
(on a lighter note...the staff claim that the ancient devices remain because they prefer the old stuff is less complicated to read. I guess...use whatever is useful, there is never too much redundancy in monitoring Mt. Merapi and in providing sound advice to help mitigate the dangers of an explosive and active volcano).
& BPPTK (Merapi Observatory)
The visit to SMP Negiri 1 provided some rich learning for us to understand how the locals, living in the shadow of Mt. Merapi, coped with the most recent eruption in 2010. Here are some snapshots of the mitigation taken by the locals and how the community supported the rebuilding of lives, 2 years down:
1. The school was closed and evacuation was done from the area as SMP Negiri was within the evacuation zone announced by the local authorities. This prompt and quick response to the instructions given by the authorities allowed the school to be used as a emergency point for disaster relief.
2. During the 2010 eruption from Mt. Merapi, ash falls covered the school and this was evidenced by the thick layers of ash by the sides of the roads leading up to the school. 2 years down, the ash has not quite been removed from the vicinity of the school...BUT the school itself was operational and all volcanic deposits within the school have been removed, thanks to the collaborative effort of students and the local community.
3. The last eruption in 2010 from Mt. Merapi left many people homeless and they had to shift into temporary shelters. At the time of the school visit, many of the students were still staying in temporary shelters. However, many of them do not show signs of emotional trauma and instead display a resilience and a cheerful disposition. This resilience in the face of challenges is most heartening!
Hearing from the Principal's perspective, it is amazing how swiftly the local government acts on to, and with expert logistical help, evacuate the locales that are within the danger zone. The deployment of the army and police, ever-ready for disaster relief and evacuation, is something that helps to reduce the unnecessary loss of human lives.
SMP, NIE and EOS staff at dialogue hosted by the school
Incredible hospitality provided by the hosts (including locally grown snakeskin fruit!)
At the BPPTK (Merapi Observatory), we were treated to sights of a different nature:
The Merapi Observatory is a scientific laboratory and monitoring station all rolled into one. Primarily, it houses equipment to monitor critical locations on and around Mt. Merapi; BPPTK serves as an advanced warning post to broadcast information to the local authorities, so that evacuation can be done to minimise loss of lives in the event of an eruption from Merapi.
1. BPPTK staff are extremely fit...because they are on rotation to climb Mt. Merapi and maintain critical monitoring equipment: these equipment relay visual and non-visual information (such as temperature, chemical and seismic activity) to the main office of BPPTK. Even during lull periods, the staff keep themselves entertained by playing badminton!
2. BPPTK makes use of advanced technology such as high-definition CCTVs and computerised seismographs in its efforts to monitor seismic and volcanic activity near Mt. Merapi. They even have backup power generators to ensure that the equipment remain operational in the event of electrical power loss from the main power stations. However, they still rely on tried and tested "ancient" technology, such as the kinemetric seismograph. There is never too much effort and preparation to ensure that the proper monitoring of Mt. Merapi is carried out.
(on a lighter note...the staff claim that the ancient devices remain because they prefer the old stuff is less complicated to read. I guess...use whatever is useful, there is never too much redundancy in monitoring Mt. Merapi and in providing sound advice to help mitigate the dangers of an explosive and active volcano).
Dr. Purbo explaining the various equipment in the observatory
CCTV constantly monitoring real time changes on and around Mt. Merapi
A chemist's haven: endless bottles of chemicals to analyse soil and rock composition
Machines to slice rock into thin fragments for visual and chemical analysis
Labeled and archived samples of pyroclast and other minerals from different eruptions
Pyroclastic material inside a soft drink bottle, recovered from a prior eruption
Thursday, 8 November 2012
Mitigation Effort
Responding to volcanic hazards
Emergency shelters
Emergency
Shelters are located outside a 10-kilometre exclusion zone
around the volcano. Local residents can flee to these shelters in times of
eruption.
Relocation Program
The government wanted the survivors of the 2010 eruption to move to
safer locations. However, many of them objected to the relocation plan and
wanted to build their houses near their previous neighbourhood. Those families
relocated were also given cattle, seeds and saplings to resume their
livelihood.
http://www.irinnews.org/printreport.aspx?reportid=92624
Temporary shelters
Temporary
shelters were constructed in Yogyakarta and Central
Java provinces to house displaced residents. A daily food allowance of
5,000 rupiah would be given to people living in temporary shelters for three to
six months.
http://www.irinnews.org/printreport.aspx?reportid=92624
Hazard Mapping
Maps are produced to map out pyroclastic flows and surges and
mudflows (lahar) using Geographical Information Systems. This will allow
scientists to forecast areas of impacts and pinpoint regions at a high risk of
lethal hazards. This information will help hazard managers to decide if a
particular population needs to be evacuated.
Sabo
Dams
Sabo dams
can protect the area from mudflow (lahar flow) and debris flow and also reduce
the velocity of flow. These structures come in a pair. The main dam helps to trap sediments
while the secondary dam protects the main dam from scour. Small lahar also be
diverted away from properties by artificial channels. However, the presence of
these structures may lead to an explosion in a pyroclastic surge, resulting in
greater damage.
 |
| Sabo dam |
Mitigation- Class Activity
Background
During the 2010 eruption, some people living in Kinahrejo, the area in the highest hazard zone at the southern flanks of Mt Merapi were not willing to evacuate. The Javanese believe that Mt Merapi is the home to many spiritual creatures and these spiritual creatures have the power over volcanic eruptions. Kinahrejo is also the home of Mbah Marijian, the gatekeeper of Mt Merapi.Instruction
The class is divided into three teams: residents, scientists and the local government. The local residents and scientists will take turns to justify their stand based on the given information. The local government will then decide whether to evacuate the residents based what the teams have presented and decide on the alert level (Level 1-4). Questions can be raised by the opposing party and the local government after each team has stated their stand. The residents and scientists can also raise questions to the local government after a decision is made. The teacher then concludes the session by summing up the main points.
Role: Local Residents
Why should we not evacuate?
- Some of the residents also believe that those who perished in the previous eruptions are punished by the spiritual creatures and hence, try to appease the spiritual creatures by presenting their offerings and wait
- Locals rely heavily on their livestock for their livelihood and they are reluctant to abandon their animals. People evacuated will return to their homes daily to take care of their livestock. These people believe that they would have time to flee before the volcano erupts and they are afraid that their livestock will be stolen
- Residents are not directly affected in the previous eruptions so they are more reluctant to evacuate
http://mountmerapi.net/living-with-volcanoes/
Role: Scientists
Why evacuate?
- Real-time seismic monitoring shows an increase seismic activity (volcanic-tectonic earthquakes). When magma moves towards the surface, earthquake will be triggered as the magma breaks rocks that is in its way.
- There is a bulge in the summit, observed through visual monitoring
- White plume of smoke rose above the crater
Should we evacuate? When?
- Most volcanoes show sign of eruption months and weeks before the eruption occur. It is important for evacuation to take place at the right time.
- Evacuated residents have to be provided with the practical items and food at the temporary shelters
- People evacuated to the temporary shelters will be concerned of their livelihood. They might be faced with financial problems, as they could not earn their living through the sale of milk or labour in the sand mining industry. The situation will be worse for those who make daily trips home to take care for their lifestock, for money will have to be spent on petrol as they commute to and fro.
Warning system
Level 1 alert is where Mt Merapi is at its normal level of activity
Level 2 alert is where Mt Merapi is having a more than its normal level of activity and there will be intensive coordination with the local government
Level 3 alert will be sounded when Mt Merapi shows an increase in activity
Level 4 alert will be raised when Mt Merapi is likely to erupt and evacuation will occur.
The warning is disseminated through the radio.
 |
| Visual Monitoring |
 |
| Seismograph |
Outcome
The eruption in 2010 killed the renowned mystical guardian of Merapi volcano, Mbah Marijan and 34 others who had refused to evacuate the village of Kinahrejo.
Web Resource http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39846256/ns/world_news-asia_pacific/t/least-killed-indonesia-volcano-erupts/
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