ACT Alliance

Exhausted residents of Mt Merapi sleep in a Yakkum shelter.
ACT/YEU

Injured survivors of the eruption of Indonesia’s most volatile volcano are being brought to an ACT Alliance-run hospital for emergency burns care.

Four hospitals near Mt Merapi have treated 30 people, some with burns to 70 percent of the body. One of the hospitals is run by ACT Alliance member Yakkum Emergency Unit.

ACT Alliance is also swiftly setting up shelters for people fleeing the heat, dust and lava of Mt Merapi, 30km north of Yogyakarta, which erupted yesterday. Several thousand people have fled their homes for safety.

Indonesia is grappling with two natural disasters in rapid succession – the eruption of Mt Merapi and a 3m-high tsunami on October 25 off the west coast of Sumatra that killed at least 154 according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency.

Mt Merapi erupted three times on October 26, forcing the mountain's 11,000 inhabitants to flee as it emitted searing clouds of volcanic ash as high as 1.5km and clouds of gas and ash rolled down the slopes. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said at least 28 people were killed. Search and rescue teams continue to scour the area around the volcano for survivors.

Among the dead is a three-month-old baby girl, killed as the volcano emitted searing hot clouds and volcanic ash.

Volcanologists warn there is the possibility of a major eruption as Mt Merapi has more energy than before the June 2006 eruption which killed two.

Evacuation advice defied
On October 25, authorities advised 19,000 residents living within 10km of the crater to evacuate. However, only 4000 people - mostly elderly, mothers and children - left the area despite several minor blasts that sent lava spewing down Merapi’s southern slopes. Many people sleeping in camps returned to their homes during the day to work and tend their cattle. Some men refused to leave, confident that they would be able to escape.

Local leaders prepared seven evacuation points, although facilities lacked enough toilets and clean water, Yakkum reported. The government set up 24-hour health posts.

ACT treats burns survivors, opens shelters
In addition to providing care at its Bethesda Hospital, Yakkum is working with the district government to ensure emergency preparedness plans are in place. It has set up a temporary shelter in one of its training centres with toilets, water, food and health services in response to an urgent request from village leaders.

Churches are supporting Yakkum with volunteers, food and tents. ACT Alliance’s Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe has sent staff from its local office to support the Yakkum operation.

ACT members Yayasan Tanggul Bencana di Indonesia and Church World Service are on standby for Merapi, although the focus of their operations is assessing and responding to the Mentawai tsunami.

Mentawai Tsunami

Church World Service’s Reverend Rugun Pakpahan said at least six villages in the Mentawai islands were hit by the huge waves generated by an earthquake two days ago. He said 645 families had been displaced from their homes. Access to the Mentawai islands has been hampered by strong winds and rough seas. Church World Service is issuing 140 baby care kits and is assessing extra needs.

In December 2004, around 250,000 people were killed around the Indian Ocean when the same fault line triggered the massive December 24 tsunami.

The Indonesian archipelago sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world's most active areas for earthquakes and volcanoes. Indonesia has more active volcanoes than any other country.