Merapi Rampage Again

Saturday, 30 October 2010

Hot clouds, hot clouds slide or wedhus gembel Mount Merapi happened
nine times yesterday. This hot cloud is obvious from Hamlet Kalitengah,
Glagahharjo, Cangkringan, Sleman thus making the residents had time to
panic.

YOGYAKARTA (SINDO) - Stretching Merapi Merapi berhenti.Kemarin yet

again spewing clouds panas.Sejak at 00.00 pm until last night Merapi
spewing material commonly called wedhus trash as much as nine times.
Based on the monitoring tool seismitas Mount Merapi in Central Office of
Investigation and Technology Development Kegunungapian (BPPTK)
Yogyakarta, bursts masingmasingterjadipadapukul 01.17,06.10,08.10,
11:20, 13:46, 14:49, 14.56,19.34, and 20:28 pm.

Blast of hot clouds are known to experience a change in direction,

especially in the last bursts, ie at 19:34 and 20:28 WIB.Dua bursts were
heading west with rain accompanied by volcanic ash in the area Kemiren,
Ngablak, Argorejo Magelang.Padahal District pascaerupsi, bursts of heat
clouds always leads to the south namely Sleman regency.

Blast of hot clouds not to cause casualties despite some desperate

residents in the evacuation took home. "Until now there were no reports of
victims injured or killed," said Commander Satkorlak PB Sleman Widi
Sutikno, yesterday. Head of the Yogyakarta BPTTK Subandriyo states, the
emergence of hot clouds pascaerupsi is normal. Only, until when heat
clouds will continue to swell, he can not predict.

However, he confirmed that with the continued high activity, the status of
Merapi is still dangerous or alert (level IV). Moreover, seismitas Mount
Merapi, also showed increased activity. The number of miscarriages as
much as 285, multiphase (181), and volcanic (58). ''There are still difficult
to predict when hot clouds cease. What is clear, we have not revoke the
status of Merapi is still alert,''he said last night.

While Head of Geological Agency Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources

(EMR) Sukhyar remind threat pascaerupsi lava of Merapi, 26 October.
According to him, glide lava coming out of the stomach can trigger
longsornya Merapi volcanic material underneath it.''Moreover, the current
condition is the rainy season,''he said in the Office of BPPTK Yogyakarta.

He predicts, there are at least 8 million cubic meters of volcanic material

that is on top of Merapi, which is a pile of accumulated material from the
volcanic eruption of Merapi 1911.Material since it lies below the center of
the eruption of October 26 2010.Jika rock conditions at the top of Merapi
was disturbed activity discharge of magma or lava and a new dome from
the eruption of 2010, millions of cubic material is feared will ambrol down.

According to him, if all the material Merapi's volcanic collapse, the flow is
potential to get into KaliGendol. The danger if Kali Gendol which has only a
volume of 6 million cubic meters will not be able to accommodate these
volcanic material. As a result, avalanches of volcanic material that over-
capacity it will hit around the river or even people's homes.

Merapi''sliding material due to heavy rain is what is feared will be a

secondary hazard, ie, cold lava flooding into the south so that we still
maintain the alert status of Merapi to the position and recommended the
area radius of 10 kilometers from the peak of Merapi remained evacuated,
"he explained. Head of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics
(BMKG) Yogyakarta Budi Waluyo justify the threat of cold lava flood should
be wary because this is now entering the rainy season.

Rainfall in October was even already exceeded the monthly average in the
last 30 years. Usually''October in the last 30 years rainfall is only 107
millimeters, it's beyond, even reaching 200 millimeters. This is higher now
because of the influence of La Nina,''he said. Although not to cause
casualties, the blast of hot clouds sempatmembuat panicked some
residents in Balerante Village, District Kemalang, Klaten panic.

When Merapi out hot clouds between the hours of 6:00 to 12:00 pm, a
number of people living in Disaster Prone Areas (KRB) III middle went
home to take care of livestock. Sukarjo Minto, 60, a resident of the Village
Balerante, admitted only resigned when Merapi out hot clouds. At that
time he was looking for grass in hutan.Dia resigned because clouds glide
sure heat is not up to the Village Balerante though the distance is only
about 4 kilometers from the peak of Merapi.

The conviction was based because there are two hills side by side with
Merapi. "I see clearly the hot clouds coming out from the peak of Merapi.
However, I do not run, "said Minto Sukarjo. To help residents, Satkorlak
Disaster Management Team (PB) right fielded a number of its trucks to
transport them back to the refuge. Meanwhile, the victim Merapi increased
again.

Sapari, 48, a resident of Hamlet Stabelan, Tlogolele Village, District Selo,

Boyolali district, must give up his son's departure, Paiman, 4, who died
because of disease upper respiratory infections (ARI) due to volcanic dust
most active volcano in Indonesia. Thus, the total casualties eruption
located on the border of Yogyakarta and Central Java it to 34 people.

Village Head Tlogolele, BudiHarsono said, the victim died at the General
Hospital Mutilan, Magelang District, yesterday afternoon. From the results
of medical examination of the local hospital, the victim died allegedly due
to volcanic dust clogged respiratory organs caused by the eruption of
Mount Merapi aftershocks that occurred yesterday morning at around 5:30
pm.

"When an increase in volcanic activity this morning (yesterday morning),

children, pregnant women, and residents who are elderly who live in areas
KRB, including Hamlet Stabelan evacuated immediately. In the refugee
boy (Paiman) suddenly coughing and shortness of this breath. Sick child.
Condition immediately rushed to the house quite severe and can not be
saved, "he said yesterday.

Residents Still Concerned

Roar of the Mount Merapi until yesterday still often heard people, both
located in areas prone to disasters (KRB) III and his voice was not as hard
II.Walaupun before eruption, 26 October, the residents remain worried
Merapi back will issue a hot clouds and eruptions lagi.Bahkan larger than
the previous eruption.

Head Hamlet Petung, Kepuharjo, Cangkringan, Sleman regency,

Yogyakarta, Pairin states, with these conditions, parties urged its citizens
to remain in the camps. "We still hope that citizens obey the instructions
ini.Apalagi, Merapi for two days still continues to churn with clouds issue
heat and eruptions, "he said. While people in Magelang regency,
especially those in Sub Srumbung, Salam, Shaman, and Muntilan,
yesterday felt the rain of dust.

Based on the monitoring officer at the observation post, the rain clouds of
dust came after the release of heat on at 6:10, 8:39, and 8:34 WIB.Awan
hot dust impact on the occurrence of rain. Rain dust''is relatively smaller,
more tipis.Namun, residents remain worried exposed to respiratory illness
so as to keep wearing masks,''said Rusman, 42, a resident of Hamlet
Kalisari, Mranggen Village, District Srumbung. Under these conditions,
Magelang Regent Singgih Sanyoto urged the refugees to stay in refugee
camps while waiting for safe atmosphere.

While refugees from the village of Kaliurang and Kemiren village in the
subdistrict and village Nglumut Srumbung and Ngargomulyo, District
Shaman advised to stay until the status of Merapi was reduced to idle.
Same appeal submitted Camat Cangkringan Samson Bakri. He asked the
citizens not hurried back to the house because of the condition of Merapi
is still alert. However, if there are desperate people to his house, it could
not hinder.

In addition to his house to see the existence, most of them also see flocks
of animals. ''If there are people who clandestinely returned to his home,
we can not menghalangi.Hanya course, after the affair is finished,
expected to be down,''he said. Meanwhile, Police Chief Gen. Pol DIY
Ondang Sutarsa yesterday had led the evacuation team and the
Yogyakarta police team to open the path to Kinaharejo and surrounding
areas.
However, because the re-eruption of Merapi 9:55 pm and issued a hot
cloud, Police Chief DIY then decided to return to under. Next evacuation
continued and led by Pol Tjiptono Wakapolda DIY Comr. "We had set off at
08.30 pm, but after a re-eruption of Merapi siren and pulled out a cloud of
hot, me and my entourage back down," said Ondang Sutarsa arrival at the
barracks yesterday Kepuharjo. (Mercy Anshori / Priyo Setyawan / m
Abduh / ary revelation wibowo / angga rosa)

Merapi Mengamuk Lagi

Saturday, 30 October 2010

AWAN PANAS, Luncuran awan panas atau wedhus gembel Gunung
Merapi kemarin terjadi sebanyak sembilan kali. Awan panas ini terlihat
jelas dari Dusun Kalitengah, Glagahharjo, Cangkringan, Sleman sehingga
membuat warga sempat panik.

YOGYAKARTA(SINDO) – Geliat Merapi belum berhenti.Kemarin Merapi

kembali menyemburkan awan panas.Sejak pukul 00.00 WIB hingga tadi
malam Merapi menyemburkan material yang biasa disebut wedhus
gembel sebanyak sembilan kali. Berdasarkan pantauan alat seismitas
Gunung Merapi di Kantor Balai Penyelidikan dan Pengembangan Teknologi
Kegunungapian (BPPTK) Yogyakarta, semburan
masingmasingterjadipadapukul 01.17,06.10,08.10, 11.20, 13.46, 14.49,
14.56,19.34,dan 20.28 WIB.

Semburan awan panas tersebut diketahui mengalami perubahan arah,

khususnya pada semburan terakhir, yakni pukul 19.34 dan 20.28 WIB.Dua
semburan itu mengarah ke barat dengan diiringi hujan abu vulkanik di
daerah Kemiren, Ngablak, Argorejo di Kabupaten Magelang.Padahal
pascaerupsi, semburan awan panas selalu mengarah ke selatan yakni
wilayah Kabupaten Sleman.

Semburan awan panas tidak sampai menimbulkan korban jiwa meski

beberapa warga di pengungsian nekat menyempatkan diri pulang ke
rumah. “Sampai saat ini tidak ada laporan korban terluka atau
meninggal,” kata Komandan Satkorlak PB Sleman Widi Sutikno,kemarin.
Kepala BPTTK Yogyakarta Subandriyo menyatakan,munculnya awan panas
pascaerupsi adalah hal wajar. Hanya, sampai kapan awan panas akan
terus menyembul, dia belum bisa memprediksi.

Namun,dia memastikan bahwa dengan masih tingginya aktivitas, status

Merapi masih berbahaya atau awas (level IV). Apalagi,seismitas Gunung
Merapi juga menunjukkan aktivitas peningkatan. Jumlah guguran
sebanyak 285,multiphase (181), serta vulkanik (58). ‘’Masih sulit
diprediksi kapan awan panas berhenti. Yang jelas, kita belum mencabut
status Merapi yang masih awas,’’ katanya tadi malam.

Sedangkan Kepala Badan Geologi Kementerian Energi dan Sumber Daya

Mineral (ESDM) Sukhyar mengingatkan ancaman lava pijar pascaerupsi
Merapi, 26 Oktober. Menurutnya, luncuran lava pijar yang keluar dari
perut Merapi bisa memicu longsornya material vulkanik yang ada di
bawahnya.‘’Apalagi kondisi saat ini adalah musim penghujan,’’ katanya di
Kantor BPPTK Yogyakarta.
Dia memprediksi, sedikitnya ada 8 juta meter kubik material vulkanik
Merapi yang ada di puncak, yang merupakan tumpukan dari akumulasi
material dari letusan Merapi sejak 1911.Material vulkanik itu terletak di
bawah pusat letusan 26 Oktober 2010.Jika kondisi batuan di puncak
Merapi tersebut terganggu aktivitas keluarnya magma atau lava pijar
serta kubah baru dari letusan 2010, dikhawatirkan jutaan kubik material
tersebut akan ambrol ke bawah.

Menurutdia,jikaseluruhmaterial vulkanik Merapi itu runtuh, alirannya

berpotensimasukke KaliGendol. BahayanyajikaKali Gendolyang hanya
mempunyai volume 6 juta meter kubik tidak akan mampu menampung
material vulkanik tersebut. Akibatnya, longsoran material vulkanik yang
over capacity itu akan menghantam sekitar sungai atau bahkan rumah-
rumah penduduk.

‘’Longsoran material Merapi akibat hujan deras inilah yang dikhawatirkan

akan menjadi bahaya sekunder,yakni banjir lahar dingin ke wilayah
selatan sehingga kita masih mempertahankan status Merapi pada posisi
awas serta merekomendasikan kawasan radius 10 kilometer dari puncak
Merapi tetap dikosongkan,” paparnya. Kepala Badan Meteorologi,
Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (BMKG) Yogyakarta Budi Waluyo membenarkan
ancaman banjir lahar dingin ini patut diwaspadai karena saat ini sudah
memasuki musim penghujan.

Curah hujan pada Oktober ini bahkan sudah melebihi rata-rata bulanan
dalam 30 tahun terakhir. ‘’Biasanya Oktober dalam 30 tahun terakhir
curah hujannya hanya 107 milimeter, sekarang sudah melampaui, bahkan
mencapai 200 milimeter. Sekarang ini lebih tinggi karena pengaruh La
Nina,’’ katanya. Walaupun tidak sampai menimbulkan korban jiwa,
semburan awan panas sempatmembuat panik sejumlah warga di Desa
Balerante, Kecamatan Kemalang, Klaten panik.

Saat Merapi mengeluarkan awan panas antara pukul 06.00- 12.00 WIB,
sejumlah warga yang tinggal di Kawasan Rawan Bencana (KRB) III tengah
pulang ke rumah guna mengurusi hewan ternak. Minto Sukarjo, 60,warga
Desa Balerante, mengaku hanya pasrah saat Merapi mengeluarkan awan
panas. Saat itu dia tengah mencari rumput di hutan.Dia pasrah karena
yakin luncuran awan panas tidak sampai ke Desa Balerante meski
jaraknya hanya sekitar 4 kilometer dari puncak Merapi.

Keyakinan itu didasarkan karena ada dua bukit yang bersanding dengan
Merapi. “Saya melihat dengan jelas awan panas yang keluar dari puncak
Merapi. Namun, saya tidak lari,” kata Minto Sukarjo. Untuk menolong
warga,Tim Satkorlak Penanggulangan Bencana (PB) langsung
menerjunkan beberapa armada truk untuk mengangkut mereka kembali
ke pengungsian. Sementara itu, korban Merapi kembali bertambah.

Sapari, 48, warga Dusun Stabelan,Desa Tlogolele, Kecamatan Selo,

Kabupaten Boyolali, harus merelakan kepergian anaknya,Paiman, 4, yang
meninggal lantaran terkena penyakit infeksi saluran pernafasan atas
(ISPA) akibat debu vulkanik gunung paling aktif di Indonesia itu. Dengan
demikian, total korban letusan gunung yang berada di perbatasan DIY dan
Jawa Tengah itu menjadi 34 orang.
KepalaDesa Tlogolele,BudiHarsono menuturkan,korban meninggal di
Rumah Sakit Umum Mutilan, Kabupaten Magelang, kemarin sore. Dari
hasil pemeriksaan medis rumah sakit setempat,korban meninggal diduga
lantaran organ pernafasannya tersumbat debu vulkanik yang ditimbulkan
dari letusan susulan Gunung Merapi yang terjadi kemarin pagi sekitar
pukul 05.30 WIB.

“Saat terjadi peningkatan aktivitas vulkanik tadi pagi (kemarin pagi),anak-

anak,wanita hamil,dan warga yang sudah lanjut usia yang bermukim di
daerah KRB, termasuk Dusun Stabelan langsung diungsikan. Di tempat
pengungsian anak itu (Paiman) mendadak batuk serta sesak nafas.Anak
ini langsung dilarikan ke rumah sakit.Kondisinya cukup parah dan tidak
bisa diselamatkan,” ujarnya kemarin.

Warga Masih Khawatir

Suara gemuruh dari dalam Gunung Merapi hingga kemarin masih sering
didengar warga, baik yang berada di kawasan rawan bencana (KRB) III dan
II.Walaupun suaranya tidak sekeras sebelum ada erupsi, 26 Oktober
lalu,warga tetap khawatir Merapi kembali akan mengeluarkan awan panas
dan erupsi lagi.Bahkan lebih besar daripada erupsi sebelumnya.

Kepala Dusun Petung, Kepuharjo, Cangkringan, Kabupaten Sleman,

Yogyakarta, Pairin menyatakan, dengan kondisi tersebut, pihak
mengimbau warganya agar tetap berada di pengungsian.“Kami tetap
berharap warga mematuhi instruksi ini.Apalagi, Merapi selama dua hari
masih terus bergolak dengan mengeluarkan awan panas dan
erupsi,”ucapnya. Sementara masyarakat di Kabupaten Magelang,terutama
yang berada di Kecamatan Srumbung, Salam, Dukun, dan Muntilan,
kemarin merasakan hujan debu.

Berdasarkan pantauan petugas di pos pengamatan, hujan debu terjadi

setelah keluarnya awan panas pada pukul 06.10, 08.39, dan 08.34
WIB.Awan panas itu berdampak pada terjadinya hujan debu. ‘’Hujan
debunya relatif lebih kecil, lebih tipis.Namun,warga tetap khawatir terkena
sakit pernafasan sehingga tetap memakai masker,’’ ujar Rusman,
42,warga Dusun Kalisari, Desa Mranggen, Kecamatan Srumbung. Dengan
kondisi tersebut,Bupati Magelang Singgih Sanyoto mengimbau para
pengungsi agar tetap tinggal di pengungsian sambil menunggu suasana
aman.

Sementara pengungsi dari Desa Kaliurang dan Desa Kemiren di

Kecamatan Nglumut serta Desa Srumbung dan Ngargomulyo, Kecamatan
Dukun diimbau agar tetap tinggal hingga status Merapi diturunkan
menjadi siaga. Imbauan sama disampaikan Camat Cangkringan Samsul
Bakri. Dia meminta warganya tidak keburu balik ke rumah karena kondisi
Merapi masih awas. Namun, jika ada warga yang nekat ke rumahnya,
pihaknya tidak dapat menghalangi.

Selain menengok keberadaan rumahnya,kebanyakan mereka juga

menengok hewan ternaknya. ’’Jika ada warga yang secara sembunyi
pulang ke rumahnya, kami tidak dapat menghalangi.Hanya saja,setelah
urusan selesai, diharapkan segera turun,’’ tandasnya. Sementara itu,
Kapolda DIY Brigjen Pol Ondang Sutarsa kemarin sempat memimpin tim
evakuasi dan Tim Polda DIY untuk membuka jalur ke Kinaharejo dan
sekitarnya.

Namun, karena pada pukul 09.55 Merapi kembali erupsi dan

mengeluarkan awan panas, Kapolda DIY kemudian memutuskan kembali
ke bawah.Selanjutnya evakuasi dilanjutkan dan dipimpin Wakapolda DIY
Kombes Pol Tjiptono. “Kami tadi berangkat pukul 08.30 WIB,namun
setelah ada sirene Merapi kembali erupsi dan mengeluarkan awan panas,
saya dan rombongan kembali turun,” kata Ondang Sutarsa saat tiba di
barak pengungsian Kepuharjo kemarin. (ridwan anshori/priyo setyawan/m
abduh/ary wahyu wibowo/angga rosa)