the fire mountain
One of the major eruptions happened on 22 November 1994, at 10.15 hrs local time. A flow containing 220°C burst of gas, steam, and ashes killed more than 80 people. More than 1.3 million cubic yard of lava pour six kilometres down the mountainside along the river Boyong in Turgo village.
Source: http://discover-indo.tierranet.com/volcano04.htm
Source: http://discover-indo.tierranet.com/volcano04.htm
Mount Merapi is seen spewing heat and pyroclastic ashes on Monday, 15th of May, 2006. At this point in time, the volcano had been venting steam and debris for more than a month.
Source: http://discover-indo.tierranet.com/volcano04.htm
Source: http://discover-indo.tierranet.com/volcano04.htm
Refugees from Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcanic eruption sleep in close quarters at a refugee camp, located at Maguo Harjo Stadium, in Sleman, Yogyakarta, on November 15, 2010.
Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/overnight-with-merapi-refugees-in-the-volcanos-aftermath-46055.html
Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/overnight-with-merapi-refugees-in-the-volcanos-aftermath-46055.html
Brief Introduction:
Mount Merapi, also known as Gunung Merapi, is an active stratovolcano located on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548.
The horrific 2010 eruptions of Mount Merapi began in late October 2010 when it began an increasingly violent series of eruptions that continued into November. Seismic activity around the volcano increased from mid-September onwards, culminating in repeated spewing of lava and ashes. Large eruption columns formed, causing numerous pyroclastic flows down the heavily populated slopes of the volcano. Merapi's eruption was said by authorities to be the largest since the 1870s.
Over 350,000 people were evacuated from the affected area. However, many remained behind or returned to their homes while the eruptions were continuing. 353 people were killed during the eruptions, many as a result of pyroclastic flows. The ash plumes from the volcano also caused major disruption to aviation across Java.
The mountain continued to erupt until 30 November 2010. On 3 December 2010 the official alert status was reduced to level 3, from level 4, as the eruptive activity had subsided.
So, how did the Mount Merapi eruptions affect Indonesia's society?
People and Society:
Food prices constantly increase due to the damage of crops caused by the volcanic bombs and hot gases of up to 800°C that spread over 11 km away. This causes a decrease in the farmers' income and the poor area usually not be able to afford the overpriced crops.
People do not manage to get help immediately, causing the death rates to increase. This is because emergency shelters were moved over 15km away from the site as a result of the pyroclastic flows spreading almost 3km down the volcano.
Ash fell up to 30km away and 5km into the sky, as a result, villages of a radius of 15km away, were covered under 30cm of ash. The danger area extended to 20km from the mountain and 278,000 people living in this area had to flee their homes.
Relationships with other countries are also affected since sulphur dioxide was blown across Indonesia to places as far South as Australia. As a result, planes were grounded in Western Australia because of the risk of damage to aircraft from the ash cloud.
Tourism in and out of Indonesia is also affected since nobody could fly in and out of Indonesia due to the danger caused by ash clouds.
Ash, rock and lava deposited on the sides of the volcano is still being washed down into towns by rainfall creating lahar (a mudflow that often flows along river valleys).
The evacuation centres were overcrowded leading to poor sanitation, no privacy and serious disease risk.
People, particularly farmers, lost their homes and livelihoods.
210 evacuation centres were set up either as tents, in schools, churches, stadiums or government offices. This way, more people could seek medical attention. Formal evacuation centres were eventually set up since buildings, such as schools and government offices, were later needed for their official uses.
1,600 people, either volunteers or military, were part of the national aid response. 2,682 people have had to be moved to new, safer houses permanently.
International aid was offered from organisations such as the Red Cross.
The government has made money available to farmers to help replace their livestock, lessening the economic strain out on these farmers,
The government has set up a special task force to support people that have been affected by the volcano either by family issues, or because they have lost their jobs. Hence, more people were able to recieve government aid and their burden was lessened.
Poverty
There are positive and negative impacts to farming by the poor. Crops are destroyed due to the impact of the volcano eruptions. The people already living in poverty will only be put under harsher conditions and worsen their state of poverty. However, ash from the volcano will eventually lead to more fertile soils in the area, leading to increased crop harvest and more income for farmers.
Mount Merapi, also known as Gunung Merapi, is an active stratovolcano located on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548.
The horrific 2010 eruptions of Mount Merapi began in late October 2010 when it began an increasingly violent series of eruptions that continued into November. Seismic activity around the volcano increased from mid-September onwards, culminating in repeated spewing of lava and ashes. Large eruption columns formed, causing numerous pyroclastic flows down the heavily populated slopes of the volcano. Merapi's eruption was said by authorities to be the largest since the 1870s.
Over 350,000 people were evacuated from the affected area. However, many remained behind or returned to their homes while the eruptions were continuing. 353 people were killed during the eruptions, many as a result of pyroclastic flows. The ash plumes from the volcano also caused major disruption to aviation across Java.
The mountain continued to erupt until 30 November 2010. On 3 December 2010 the official alert status was reduced to level 3, from level 4, as the eruptive activity had subsided.
So, how did the Mount Merapi eruptions affect Indonesia's society?
People and Society:
Food prices constantly increase due to the damage of crops caused by the volcanic bombs and hot gases of up to 800°C that spread over 11 km away. This causes a decrease in the farmers' income and the poor area usually not be able to afford the overpriced crops.
People do not manage to get help immediately, causing the death rates to increase. This is because emergency shelters were moved over 15km away from the site as a result of the pyroclastic flows spreading almost 3km down the volcano.
Ash fell up to 30km away and 5km into the sky, as a result, villages of a radius of 15km away, were covered under 30cm of ash. The danger area extended to 20km from the mountain and 278,000 people living in this area had to flee their homes.
Relationships with other countries are also affected since sulphur dioxide was blown across Indonesia to places as far South as Australia. As a result, planes were grounded in Western Australia because of the risk of damage to aircraft from the ash cloud.
Tourism in and out of Indonesia is also affected since nobody could fly in and out of Indonesia due to the danger caused by ash clouds.
Ash, rock and lava deposited on the sides of the volcano is still being washed down into towns by rainfall creating lahar (a mudflow that often flows along river valleys).
The evacuation centres were overcrowded leading to poor sanitation, no privacy and serious disease risk.
People, particularly farmers, lost their homes and livelihoods.
210 evacuation centres were set up either as tents, in schools, churches, stadiums or government offices. This way, more people could seek medical attention. Formal evacuation centres were eventually set up since buildings, such as schools and government offices, were later needed for their official uses.
1,600 people, either volunteers or military, were part of the national aid response. 2,682 people have had to be moved to new, safer houses permanently.
International aid was offered from organisations such as the Red Cross.
The government has made money available to farmers to help replace their livestock, lessening the economic strain out on these farmers,
The government has set up a special task force to support people that have been affected by the volcano either by family issues, or because they have lost their jobs. Hence, more people were able to recieve government aid and their burden was lessened.
Poverty
There are positive and negative impacts to farming by the poor. Crops are destroyed due to the impact of the volcano eruptions. The people already living in poverty will only be put under harsher conditions and worsen their state of poverty. However, ash from the volcano will eventually lead to more fertile soils in the area, leading to increased crop harvest and more income for farmers.