No Need to Evacuate Yet as Merapi’s Status Raised

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

The summit of Mt. Merapi is seen on Tuesday (22/5/2018) from Klangon Hill in Glagaharjo village, Cangkringan, Sleman, Yogyakarta. Residents have resumed their daily activities on the slopes of Mt. Merapi after they were evacuated the day before as a precaution against post-eruption impacts.

YOGYAKARTA, KOMPAS – Despite the status of Mt. Merapi having been increased from normal to caution, there is no need for locals living on its hillside to evacuate as of right now. Those who did have returned to their homes. Locals are on high alert over Merapi’s dangers and have proper evacuation procedures in place.

“In line with recommendation from the Research and Technological Development for Geological Disaster Agency [BPPTKG], there is no need to evacuate yet,” Yogyakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Biwara Yuswantana said in Yogyakarta on Tuesday (22/5/2018).

On Monday at 11 p.m., the BPPTKG increased Mt. Merapi status, which lies on the border of Yogyakarta and Central Java, from normal to caution. “The decision was made after increases of phreatic eruption and volcanic and tremor quakes,” BPPTKG head Hanik Humaida said.

On Monday, three phreatic eruptions occurred in Merapi, namely at 1:25 a.m., 9:38 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. On Tuesday, one phreatic eruption occurred at 1:47 a.m.

Biwara said the highest village on Merapi’s hillside was located 5 kilometers from the peak. This means that the village is located within Disaster-Prone Region (KRB) III and its residents do not need to evacuate.

Yogyakarta BPBD data shows that 1,522 locals had fled their homes as of Monday evening as they were afraid they would be affected by Merapi’s phreatic eruptions. On Tuesday morning, they slowly began to return to their homes.

Some 362 locals who left their homes in Stabelan hamlet, Tlogolele village, Selo district, Boyolali, Central Java, had also returned home. Activities have returned to normal, with locals harvesting vegetables, including cauliflower and Chinese cabbage, from their gardens.

Boyolali BPBD head Bambang Sinungharjo said Stabelan and Takeran hamlets in Tlogolele village were located around 3.5 kilometers from Merapi’s peak and are in KRB III.

In Klaten, Central Java, around 400 residents of Balerante village, Kemalang district, who fled to the Balerante village hall, have returned home. Klaten BPBD head Bambang Giyanto said that three villages in Klaten were located in KRB III, namely Balerante, Tegalmulyo and Sidorejo. Collectively, the three villages have 11,500 residents. Three evacuation zones are available in the area to be used anytime.

Stabelan local Gimun, 43, said that he had packed his clothes and personal documents into a bag. If Merapi’s condition worsens, he will be prepared to flee his house immediately. “I have parked my car facing the street. The moment anything happens, it’ll be ready to go,” he said.

Umbulharjo village head Suyatmi said in Cangkringan district, Sleman, Yogyakarta, that her villagers had started the evacuation process at 2 a.m. However, not everyone was inside the village hall. “Only around 20 people are inside. The other ones stand guard outside. Locals were shocked when they heard Merapi’s loud eruption,” Suyatmi said.

Umbulharjo village disaster preparedness program head Sriyono Hadi Susilo said that locals were worried over potential eruption as they still had bad memories on the 2010 eruption.

Hoaxes

In Magelang regency, hoaxes related to Merapi’s increasing activity led to widespread fear and panic. Merapi observation officer Heru Purwoko said at the Ngepos observation post in Srumbung district, Magelang, that dozens of locals visited the post to verify the information that they had received. Locals showed him the purported news articles and photos of an erupting volcano, which was later revealed to be of Mt. Sinabung in North Sumatra.

Magelang acting regent Tavip Supriyanto said that he urged Magelang residents to remain calm. “As of this Tuesday, mining areas are still opened and locals are still allowed to mine sand and rocks there,” he said.

Magelang regency administration said that it was still waiting for the most updated information from BPPTKG. If volcanic activities are seen as endangering locals, the mining area will be closed.

Meanwhile, people in Kemiren village, Srumbung district, decided to close the local mining area on Monday, to reduce traffic in the village and facilitate evacuation if Merapi’s status is increased.

In Bandung, volcano expert Surono said that volcanic disaster mitigation efforts should prioritize social needs and conditions. If experts are basing these efforts purely on scientific studies, locals may be confused.

“The subject of mitigation is people. Therefore, people have the right to know what will be done to reduce disaster potentials. Everyone must be honest about the disasters that can happen,” he said on Tuesday.

Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVMHG) head Kasbani said that he was sure Merapi’s current eruption was merely phreatic and would not be worse. He urged locals to remain calm. “We have asked locals to clear the area within three kilometers from the peak. They need to adhere to this recommendation,” Kasbani said in Bandung.

(HRS/NCA/RWN/EGI/SEM/CHE)