Despite a history of disasters, lack of awareness remains

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

A trader serves customers who want to buy chicken meat at Labuan market, Pandeglang, Banten, on Friday (28/12/2018). After being closed for several days due to the recent tsunami and flooding, which triggered the overflowing of the nearby Cipunten Agung River, a number of traders in the market have started to open their stalls again.

The Mt. Krakatau eruption that triggered a tsunami is not a foreign tale for people on the shorelines of Sunda Strait. Stories of historical tsunamis are passed down through generations. Every day, locals can still see the traces of past disasters.

Nurjanah, 46, sells coconut drinks on the coastline of Cikoneng Beach, right beside the Cikoneng lighthouse in Anyer, Serang, Banten. The tower was a silent witness to the horrors of the Mt. Krakatau eruption and subsequent tsunami in 1883.

Based on written information found in the lighthouse, it was first built in 1806. When Krakatau erupted in 1883, the brick structure was completely ruined. Then-Dutch king ZM Willem III then rebuilt the lighthouse in 1885. Remains of the old lighthouse became a monument in front of the new lighthouse as a remembrance of the horrors of the Mt. Krakatau eruption.

After the tsunami hit, a new awareness grew to use construction materials that could withstand disasters.

“The original lighthouse that the tsunami destroyed had been built with bricks. The new lighthouse was built with steel,” said lighthouse guard Mohammad Taufik, 57.

The 1883 tsunami was triggered by an eruption of Mt. Krakatau. The terrible disaster, which led to the destruction of the mountain itself, triggered a 20-meter tsunami that killed 36,000 people on the shores of Banten and Lampung (Kompas, 24/12/2018).

Nurjanah said she knew the old Cikoneng lighthouse was a monument to commemorate the Krakatau eruption and subsequent tsunami. Nurjanah said she had heard stories of the volcanic eruptions passed down in her family.

According to tales from Buyut Ali, the grandfather of Nurjanah’s husband, all Cikoneng villagers were saved from the tsunami because they ran for the hills. Nurjanah said she knew from the stories that tsunamis were always preceded by the drastic receding of sea water. However, these stories did not necessarily instill in Nurjanah the awareness to protect herself from potential similar disasters.

Neglect

More than a century after the 1883 disaster, another tsunami occurred in the Sunda Strait. This time, it was triggered by Mt. Anak Krakatau and hit the shores of both Lampung and Banten. On Saturday (22/12/2018) at around 9:30 p.m., waves believed to be between 2 meters and 7 m high laid waste to the shores of Pandeglang and Serang.

Cikoneng Beach was not too affected by the tsunami. However, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicted that another tsunami might

still occur due to the continued activities of Mt. Anak Krakatau. The BMKG has issued a warning for locals to stay between 500 m and 1 kilometer away from beaches. Moreover, Mt. Anak Krakatau is now at a siaga (Watch), or Level III, status.

Nevertheless, Nurjanah was unperturbed by the warnings. On Wednesday (25/12), just three days after the tsunami, she reopened her shop despite it being only 10 m away from the water.

“What am I supposed to do? I have a family to feed. My grandchildren want to buy snacks and I cannot say no to them,” she said while selling coconut drinks at her shop.

She said she was the main breadwinner in her family. Her husband is a fisherman and has not been able to resume his work after the tsunami.

Surrender to fate

Nurjanah said she knew very well that Mt. Anak Krakatau continued to rumble and could erupt. From her shop, she can clearly see smoke billowing from the volcano. Volcanic dust covers the bamboo benches in her shop.

“We just surrender to fate. Everything in this world is prearranged,” she said.

Other people in tsunami-affected areas on Banten’s shores are also avoiding the dangers of another tsunami. Many said they had no other choice as they had to earn a living.

Muslim, 22, who sells fried catfish on Lagundi Beach in Carita, reopened his shop only one day after the Sunda Strait tsunami hit the area.

Neneng, 43, of Lelang Baru village in Panimbang, Pandeglang, said she knew about the warnings. However, she continues to stay in her house, which is only 15 m away from the coastline.

“I sleep at the shelter at night. I am only here during the daytime,” said Neneng while sweeping her yard on Friday.

Disaster’s trace in Lampung

In Dipangga Park in Bandar Lampung, a monument to commemorate a tsunami triggered by the Mt. Krakatau eruption in 1883 can also be found. The monument is a 1.5-m-high buoy, below which are reliefs portraying Mt. Krakatau’s eruption with high waves around it.

Hasan, 65, said that according to local tales, the buoy was found on top of a hill after the tsunami. Not far from it was the remains of a ship who got stuck inland due to the tsunami. Now, the ship no longer exists as its parts have been removed and resold. Only the buoy was left behind as a silent witness to the horrific tsunami.

People in Bandar Lampung can see the monument clearly as it is located right at the heart of the city. They should be reminded of the disastrous risks of a tsunami every time they see the monument. However, locals’ understanding of disaster mitigation remains poor. The presence of a buoy deep inland, like the one in Dipangga Park, has not led to widespread awareness on the dangers tsunamis can cause.

“I know from old stories passed through generations that there was a massive tsunami caused by Mt. Krakatau. But, I think, no disasters of such a scale can happen again today,” Hasan said calmly. (ILO/NIA/MTK/BAY/SPW/IGA/E10/E17)