International Conference, March 4-5, 2013

Planning In The Era Of Uncertainty

The Impacts Of The Lahar Flood Following Merapi Eruption
(A Case of Gadingan, Cangkringan District, Sleman Regency)
Achmad Andi Rif’an1; Agustina Setyaningrum2, Dimar Wahyu Anggara3, Ditya Wishnu
Arifal4, Taufik Perdana Ayunda5
1,2,3,4,5
Students of Master Program on Planning and Management of Coastal Area and Watershed,
Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
(Beasiswa Unngulan BPKLN Program)

Abstract

Only a few months after the Merapi Volcano erupted in the year 2010, the lahar flood hazard threatened. It has caused
many damages and losses to the area surround the rivers flowed by. Gendol River which flows through Gadingan was
flowed by the lahar flood.This research aimed to make assessment of the damages caused by the flood. First, the damage
caused by lahar flood in Gadingan, Cangkringan District, Sleman Regency was assessed and then potential losses of local
people income were measured. This research is a qualitative research. Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) is the approach used
in this research. Participatory mapping technique was used to provide the spatial distribution of the impact of lahar flood
damage.The results of this reserach showed that the number of houses suffered heavy damage were 17 houses, medium
damage were 67 houses, and the rest were just little damage or not damage at all. Infrastructures affected by the lahar are
mosque, guardhouse, street, bridge, electricity, and clean water. The lahar flood has caused some changes of economic
activity on the area which formerly most works in agricultural sector. It has also caused some losses faced by the
community. The total of private direct damage asset is about Rp. 16.106.000.000 and the total of public damage is about
840.000.000. For the indirect loss is about Rp. 253.960.000.

Keywords: Merapi Eruption, Lahar Flood, Impacts

1. Background

The eruption of Merapi Volcano in the year 2010 is one of the worst eruptions has ever taken place.
According to Mr.Surono, Head of PVMBG (Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation) the
eruption was the worst in the last 100 years. The eruption has caused a lot of impacts, especially for the
people around the location of Merapi. The eruption of Mount Merapi consists of primary and secondary
impacts. The primary impact of the direct impact is felt when there was an eruption such as the impact of hot
clouds, pyroclastic fall out, volcanic ash, and lava flows. While the secondary impact felt after the eruption,
such as the impact caused by the floods of lava.
Lahar is a material composed of volcanic ash and rock fragments derived from volcanic contaminated by
rain water and flowing at high speed. Lahar from Merapi to flowed through the rivers originating from the
mountain, including Kali Gendol. Kali Gendol which is located in Sleman Regency is one of the rivers which
is flowed by the lahar. Area flowed by the lahar along the Kali Gendol is a densely populated residential area
where people make a living there. In the settlements around the time of this Gendol affected quite badly,
particularly on settlements and infrastructure sectors.

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +62-856-495-17680

E-mail address: undie_kutahu@yahoo.com
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Figure 1. Map of Research Area

(Source: Google Earth, 2012)

2. Objective

Based on the problems mentioned above, this research has objectives:

1. To assess the damage caused by lahar flood in Gadingan?
2. To measure potential losses of local people income?

3. Method

This research is a qualitative research. Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) is the approach used in this research.
RRA is a method of the survey conducted in order to obtain a quick overview of the condition of an
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area. RRA methods is reliable to determine the condition of the environment that affected by the eruption in a
short time of research. There are many techniques of RRA method that were used, such as :direct observation,
interview with key person, and make a simple site plan. Although this research was conducted in a short time,
the accountable of accuracy and precision can be achieved by indepth interview with a key person in the area,
and literature review related to objectives of the research.
Participatory mapping technique was used to provide the spatial distribution of the impact of lahar flood
damage. The inhabitants were asked to obtain the information of lahar flood impacts to settlement and
infratructures and the spatial distribution of the damage. Qualitative analysis used to describe kinds of
infrastructure that damage and also to assess the potential losses of local people income.
Data collection in this research include the collection of secondary data and primary data collection. Some
secondary data obtained from the relevant institution e.g. from Village Office. The primary data collection
was performed by indepht interview and field observation. The indepht interview was done with local
community and actors in the area.
Merapi Eruption , 2010

Citra Google, 2012

Settlement and infrastructure

Gadingan Potencial losses of income
damage

Spatial distribution of affected area

(settlement and infrastructure)

Measurement of damage level (settlement) Qualitative analysis of potencial losses

Damage estimation Economic Losses estimation

Settlement damage map Matrix of infrastructure Matrix of economic activity damage

damage activityinfrastructure damage

Figure 2. Research Framework

4. Result and Discussion

The eruption of Merapi Volcano in 2010 left some material behind from the volcano, i.e. the lahar, which
is going to be transported by the water when the rain falls and flow through the rivers have source in Merapi.
One of the flows is through Gendol River, which flows across Gadingan, Cangkringan District, Sleman
Regency. Gadingan is one of area sufferered enough due to the lahar flood came from the Volcano. It has
caused many damage of infrastructure i.e. settlement, street, mosque, bridge, etc. In addition, the economic
activity of the community is also damaged and suffered some losses due to the disaster.
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4.1.1. Lahar Flood Impacts to Settlement

The houses located on Gadingan were about 132 units. When the lahar flood came in 2010, some of them
were affected. Based on head of Gadingan several suffered heavy and medium damage. The number of houses
suffered heavy damage were 17 houses, medium damage were 67 houses, and the rest were just little damage
or not damage at all. Figure 1 shows the the spatial distribution of houses suffered damage due to the lahar
flood.

Figure 3. Map of Level of Settlement Damage in Research Area

(Source: Google Earth and Analysis, 2012)

Based on Figure 3, we can see that most of the settlement on the area are affected by the lahar flood.
Settlement suffered heavy damage are mostly located near the Gendol River.

4. 1. Lahar Flood Impacts to Infrastructure

The Lahar Flood destroyed not only the settlement, but also the infrastructures in Gadingan. Some
infrastructures located around the Gendol River has suffered damage such as mosque, guardhouse, street, etc.
The lahar flood impacts to Infrastrucutre in Gadingan is shown in Table 1 below.
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Table 1. Lahar Flood Impacts to Infrastructure

Nr Type of Infrastructure Level of Damage Quantity Description Criteria
Usable after the Just clean and little repair
1 Mosque Medium 1
eruption
Usable after the Just clean and little repair
2 Guardhouse Medium 1
eruption
Some part are missing
3 Guardhouse Heavy 1 Not usable
and covered by material
High maintenance
4 Street Heavy 2,300 meters Not usable
needed
High maintenance
5 Bridge Heavy 1 Not usable
needed
The electricity could New electricity
5 Electricity Heavy All
not be used for 15 days instalation
The well cannot be Odorless and colourless
6 Clean Water Heavy All used anymore untill
now
Source : head of Gadingan, 2012

According to the table, we can see that the only one mosque on the area is affected by the lahar flood.
Anyway the mosque has been repaired. There are two guarhouses in Gadingan and both of them are suffered
damage, one is medium damage and the other is heavy damage. The street which connect this village to
Yogyakarta City and other area suffered damage heavily, with 2,300 meters of it destroyed. The flood
destoyed heavily a bridge used to cross the river, too. After the disaster, the electricity on the area is off and it
could not be used for 15 days. The inhabitants cannot take take clean water from the wells becaused they are
damaged right away after the disaster.
4. 2. Economic Activity Changes After Lahar Flood Disaster

The inhabitants of Gadingan before the eruption of Merapi Volcano are mostly rely living needs of the
agricultural sector. Land and natural environmental conditions strongly support and have potential to develop
this sector. Many community activities other than farming that does raise cattle business, trade, mining of
sand, entrepreneurs, and workers are factory workers.
Formerly agricultural sector (food crops) in support of the community present economy cannot be done
again, it takes time to repair irrigation and the effects of trauma or concerns from residents about the
aftermath of the eruption of Merapi. Below is a table of changes in economic activity after the eruption of
Merapi, where there are several activities that are not cultivated and re-emerging as a new business activity
(after disaster).
Table 2. Economic activity change
Nr Economic Activity Before the Eruption After-Eruption
1 Farmer √ √
2 Sand miners √ √
3 Factory workers √ -
4 Merchant √ √
5 Cattle breeding √ √
-
6 Catfish farms √

7 Wash the motorcycle business - √

8 Land leasing √

Source : Head of Gadingan, 2012

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Changes in public economic after eruption greatly influence the amount of income of the community.
Formerly farmed to grow crops that can be harvested several times a year now can only be rented out as a
land of sugar cane each year. There are still many people who overshadowed feeling worried and reluctant to
return to their hometown. On the other hand, sand miners have abundant fortune eruption results. Many
entrepreneurs outside the region who took the sand in this area so that employment opportunities for local
people as workers and managers of mining sand miners.
4. 3. Potential Losses of Economy Due To The Lahar Flood

Gadingan is one of the areas that are vulnerable to catastrophic eruption of Merapi. Gadingan is located
faced directly with Kali Gendol, which is the main lava flow trim. The vulnerability could result in quite a lot
of these inhabitants who become victims of the last eruption in 2010. Based on data owned by the village, the
population reached 36 people died, suffered burns as many as nine people and paralyzed by 2 people.
Percentage of victims reached 10% of the total population of 429 souls.
The calculation of the impact of Merapi eruption in this paper uses two approaches, included direct and
indirect damage loss. Each approach uses a simple method, and measured value by the value of rupiah based
on the calculation of asset values or comparable activity. Damage and loss calculations in this paper cover
only tangible aspect of the eruption. The following is a calculation done:
A. Direct damage can be interpreted as a loss or reduction in assets due to disasters, including the home,
farm, road infrastructure and public facilities, irrigation canals, and others. In calculating the direct
damage done, made the separation between private property and public property.
1. Private
 The house was heavily damage (cannot be repair): 17 house x Rp. 75.000.000 = Rp.
1.275.000.000
 The house is being damange (can be repair) : 67 house x Rp. 25.000.000 = Rp. 1.675.000.000
 Agricultural land/ sawah (cannot be plant) : 6,8 ha x 10.000 m² x Rp. 200.000/m² = Rp.
13.600.000.000
 Cattle (cow) : 13 x Rp. 12.000.000/ekor = Rp. 156.000.000
Total private direct damage assets:Rp. 16.106.000.000
2. Public
 Mosque(medium damage) : 1 x Rp. 25.000.000 = Rp. 25.000.000
 Street (heavy damage) : 2300 m x 5 x Rp.70.000/m² = Rp. 805.000.000
 Postal subtantion (Gardu pos kamling) : 2 unit x Rp. 5.000.000 = Rp. 10.000.000

B. Indirect Loss :
Indirect loss is a flow of income or services acquired or produced that will not return within a certain
period, even until the time of reconstruction and rehabilitation carried out. Indirect loss including
agricultural production and animal husbandry, industry revenue, and additional costs to be incurred for
transportation. Indirect loss amount can go up with the recovery time needed to reach a production
capacity as before. Gadingan villagers have primary livelihood as farmers and ranchers, while the
industrial business types not contained in this village. The other work that the population is engaged as an
employee or merchant. The following indirect loss calculation performed in this study:
 Agricultural production until mid-2012
Land that heavy damage: 6,8 ha x 3.000 kg/ha x Rp. 3.300/kg = Rp. 67.320.000 in one harvest. With
estimates in the period late 2010 to mid 2011 harvest should have happened 3 times, then the total
loss of agricultural production in Gadingan Rp. 67.320.000 x 3 = Rp. 201.960.000.
 Livestock production until mid-2012
Gadingan villagers develop beef cattle farm with a cow to buy a puppy bred and sold 1-2 years later
when Idul Adha arrives. The cow was bought at a price of 8 million per cow and then sold at prices
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ranging from 12 million. So that losses in cattle production Dusun Gadingan until the mid 2012 = 3 x
Rp. 4.000.000 = Rp. 52.000.000.

Total indirect loss until mid-2012 in Dusun Gadingan is Rp. 253.960.000.

5. Conclusion and Remark

The lahar flood following Merapi Eruption has caused many damages and losses in Gadingan. It has
affected the settlement, infrastructure, and economic activity of the inhabitans living in this area. The number
of houses suffered heavy damage were 17 houses, medium damage were 67 houses, and the rest were just
little damage or not damage at all. Infrastructures affected by the lahar are mosque, guardhouse, street, bridge,
electricity, and clean water.
The lahar flood has caused some changes of economic activity on the area which formerly most works in
agricultural sector. It has also caused some losses faced by the community. The total of private direct damage
asset is about Rp. 16.106.000.000 and the total of public damage is about 840.000.000. For the indirect loss is
about Rp. 253.960.000.

References

APEC. 2009. Guidelines And Best Practices For Post-Disaster Damage And Loss Assessment:Report from
APEC Workshop on Damage Assessment Techniques Yogyakarta, 3-6 August, 2009. Hongkong.CSR
Asia.
BAPPENAS. 2005. Indonesia : Preliminary Damage and Loss Assessment : The Desember 26, 2004 Disater.
Jakarta. BAPPENAS.
NOAA Coastal Service Center. “Stakeholder Engangements Strategies for Participatory Mapping”.
http://www.rumahku.com/ accessed on June 8, 2012.