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