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

Web Resource: http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/science_blog/101110.html

                             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

Web Resource: http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/what-are-signs-volcano-about-erupt

Role: Local Government

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

There are four levels in the warning system and this level is determined by visual and instrumental data:

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/