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