& 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
No comments:
Post a Comment