Turgo Exposure Reflection by Michael

I am Michael, from Malinau, North Kalimantan, I want to share a story about the experience of observing Mount Merapi and the surrounding residents. Previously, I would like to share my background, I am interested to join an organization that gives attention to natural disaster awareness, namely Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta. Why am I interested in joining this activity? Because I am interested in activities that discuss natural disasters and I want to know more about what is meant by a disaster and how to overcome it according to my study background at the Natural Sciences Education University of Sarjanawiyata Tamansiswa Yogyakarta. It motivates me to join the activities of  Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta.

At that time, the Stube-HEMAT activity agenda was exposing Merapi Volcano Museum (MGM) and Turgo village on the slopes of Mount Merapi. It made me so enthusiastic to participate in this activity because many questions are swirling in my head. On February 27, 2021, I and other participants visited MGM in the Pakem district. Here, we were welcomed by a media simulation of the eruption of Mount Merapi completed with the shape and contours of the land surface around the mountain which is identical to the original. Accompanied by the museum guide, we observed the impact of the 2010 eruption of Merapi which is depicted in a model of a house that was badly damaged by hot clouds. On the other hand, I learned about the various volcanoes in Indonesia and they are still active. It turns out that Kalimantan is relatively far from a series of volcanoes in the world.

From MGM we headed to the village of Turgo which is 5 km below the peak of Merapi. Together with Indra, the source person, we observed the peak of Merapi and the path of the lava flow when Merapi erupted. This shows how small humans are in the middle of the universe. After that, we met some residents to have a dialogue and to get to know more about Mount Merapi. I cannot wait to ask them a question I hear often that makes me curious, such as why the people choose to stay in Turgo village even though this village is very close to Mount Merapi and very dangerous for their lives because it has erupted for several times.

One of the residents, Hadi replied, “Merapi is our friend. Why can it be called a friend? Friends, already know each other. We, who live in Turgo rely on living on the slopes of Merapi, and our livelihoods come from the results of the eruption of Mount Merapi, such as sand, stones, fertile soil for plants. Also, we were born and live in this place. Mount Merapi does not erupt every day, week, or month, so we are used to the behavior of Mount Merapi. We, who live here have a strategy to avoid and overcome the threat from the raging Mount Merapi, complemented with technological advances from government agencies that are very helpful, it makes them choose to stay. When the activity of Mount Merapi increases, we increase our alert and will evacuate whenever the conditions require. If we have to move from this place, it will be difficult because it is far from the fields and it will take a long time to adapt.”

From the experience of this dialogue, I remember that my area in Malinau, North Kalimantan is experiencing frequent flooding every rainy season and must find a solution so that residents do not feel understood and used to flooding but look for causes and how to overcome them. This experience story cannot tell the whole reality, but at least this exposure can answer my curiosity and answer my friends' questions.***