A portrait of dedicated volcano watchers<\/p>\n
ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Lumajang<\/p>\n
It was drizzling on one of the peaks of Mount Semeru in Lumajang
\non Friday night, drenching the earth, plants and rocks at the
\nmountain top. The volcano is some 250 kilometers east of the
\ncapital of East Java, Surabaya.<\/p>\n
\"This is what I like most, very pleasant, especially while
\nwatching Mahameru peak in the distance billowing its mushroom-
\nshaped fumes,\" said Heri Kusurandarto, one of the staff at the
\nMount Semeru observation post, while sipping a hot cup of coffee.<\/p>\n
The observation post is located in Sumber Wuluh village, Candi
\nPura district, Lumajang, 790 meters above sea level with an
\naverage temperature of 20 degrees centigrade. The 3,676-meter-
\nhigh Mahameru peak can be clearly seen from the post.<\/p>\n
The Semeru observation post consists of two main buildings,
\nbuilt on a two-hectare plot of land. The first building beside
\nthe main entrance is used as guest quarters.<\/p>\n
The second building acts as the observation center, and is
\nequipped with two computers, a seismograph, a model of Mount
\nSemeru and a board charting the volcanic activities of the
\nmountain.<\/p>\n
Heri describes working at the observation post as challenging
\nbecause his job of monitoring the condition of the volcano, which
\nuntil now is still emitting hot lava, can save the lives of
\npeople living on the slopes of the mountain.<\/p>\n
The vibrations from Mounts Lamongan, Leker, Semeru and Bromo
\nare recorded by the seismograph 24 hours a day. The data is then
\nanalyzed every 12 hours.<\/p>\n
\"The analysis is copied onto a CD and sent to the Directorate
\nof Volcanology, Mitigation and Geology in Bandung, West Java,
\nonce a month,\" he explained. The directorate then determines the
\nstatus of the volcanoes being observed.<\/p>\n
The job is not without risks. In 2000, two employees of the
\nSemeru observation post along with a foreign volcanologist were
\nkilled and four others injured on Mahameru peak.<\/p>\n
The incident was quite unexpected because it was not preceded
\nby tremors. Working in a situation of high risk, however, has not
\ndiminished the courage of the observation post personnel.<\/p>\n
Besides monitoring the seismograph, they have to inspect the
\ncondition of equipment installed on the lower slopes of the
\nvolcanoes, such as examining the condition of their batteries. If
\nneed be, they have to climb to the peaks to check the latest
\nsituation at the crater brims.<\/p>\n
The director of the Mount Bromo observation post, Syafi'i,
\nsees his job as normal.<\/p>\n
\"We will continue working to remind residents not to get too
\nclose to the crater, especially when the mountain is active,\" he
\nsaid. Mount Bromo showed signs of activity in early April of this
\nyear.<\/p>\n
The cool and calm climate, in addition to the sounds of wild
\nanimals on the mountain, makes Heri and his two colleagues,
\nSuparno (coordinator) and Liswanto, feel at home. They likened it
\nto being a holiday every day.<\/p>\n
The serenity and the location far from the hustle and bustle
\nof city life has, however, created problems of their own. Heri
\nand Liswanto said that they often felt homesick. Watching TV,
\nlistening to the radio or surfing the Internet is often not
\nenough to cure their homesickness.<\/p>\n
\"City folks yearn for the country life, but we instead long
\nfor the city life,\" said Liswanto smiling.<\/p>\n
The only way for them is to go down the mountain and back to
\nthe modern world again. And so, they arrange a schedule that does
\nnot interfere with their duties.<\/p>\n
Liswanto, for example, prefers to return home to his family
\nnear the Pronojiwo bus terminal, which is 15 kilometers from the
\nobservation post, where a more lively and homely atmosphere with
\nhis wife and two children is sure to perk him up again.<\/p>\n
The work of government employees such as Liswanto is never
\ntaken into account by the public, although their jobs are very
\nimportant and can save many lives in event of a volcanic
\neruption, such as that which happened recently at Mount Talang,
\nWest Sumatra.<\/p>",
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