23/09/2017
In the event of a volcanic eruption
Felt the tremors today? Are your windows rattling? Heard the rumors? Worried about reports of possible eruptions from Mount Agung, earthquakes or tsunamis?
How close is any danger?
Tempted to head out with your GoPro on your Scoopy to get some footage of an erupting volcano to put on your blog? Well, the long and winding road from Ubud to the slopes of Agung is only 50km, less than 2 hours, though as the heron flies it is only 33km from the crater to the Ubud palace.
What if the volcano erupts?
If the volcano erupts – the warning level rose to Level 4, the highest level on Friday evening – there is probably very little danger of rocks or lava flows reaching Ubud, though fast flowing ‘glowing avalanches’ from volcanic eruptions have been recorded of up to 40km from their source. Residents from the mountain have been evacuated, with some 10,000 locals moving or fleeing.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency said no residents or tourists should be within 9 kilometres of the crater and within 12 kilometres to the north, northeast, southeast and south-southwest.
The 3,031-metre high Agung erupted in 1963, hurling ash as high as 10 kilometres, and killing about 1,100 people.
What is the danger for people around Ubud?
The danger for residents around Ubud comes from the ash cloud which can bring poisonous gases and particles which can cause health problems. It might be good to be aware of the risks, and also have a plan in case the winds bring clouds of ash your way and it drops around you.
Where is the best place to be?
The best place to be when there is ash fall is inside. If you happen to be outside, it is best to be away from low-lying areas, such as river gullies, as ash can be channeled down by winds and gravity. If you are outside, wear a mask, keep your skin covered, and wear glasses or googles. Avoid wearing contact lenses. Your Bintang singlet might not provide enough protection. Cover up vehicles, and seal buildings. Dampen down any ash or dust with water.
What direction is the wind blowing?
Currently the prevailing wind around Ubud is from the south and south east, which means there isn’t so much risk of ash fall, but ash can be carried long distances before dropping, and changing weather conditions such as thunderstorms can also cause ash to fall from the sky. The further from the source, it finer it tends to be, so it can be blown for thousands of kilometres. As there is quite a lot of rice stubble being burnt these days, remember that smoke from burning vegetation is different from ash from volcanoes.
Staying inside, keeping ash out
Inside, make sure windows and doors are closed. Use a mask or handkerchief for breathing if you notice ash in the air (it might seem hazy, or go darker outside as the ash blocks the sunlight). Ash is made up of very fine rock, minerals and glass, and it tends to be grey, gritty, corrosive and not dissolvable in water. Tiny ash particles, as fine as talcum powder, can be inhaled deeply into the lung, causing respiratory problems, irritating the eyes, nose and throat. You might cough, have a runny nose, a sore throat and red eyes. Those with asthma might have shortness of breath or wheezing. Your eyes might get irritated, itchy, or bloodshot. Ash particles can scratch the eyes – if you wear contacts, take them out. Avoid heavy exertion as this might lead to deeper inhalation into the lungs. No deep breathing.
After an ashfall
If you have to clean up ash, best to dampen it down first to stop it billowing, but take care as ash can be abrasive.
Should I go or should I stay?
If there is an eruption, and ashfall in your area, if you have lung or heart problems, or respiratory sensitivity, you might consider evacuation.
If the airport is closed due to ash, how can I get out of Bali?
As Denpasar has Bali’s only airport for flights, if it is closed due to ash clouds, the other option to exit Bali might be to head up to the port of Gillimanuk near Singaraja and Lovina where ferries operate throughout the day and night every 15-30 minutes for short 3km journey across to Ketapang in eastern Java, and cost just 6,000 for a passenger. Once in Java, you are close for sightseeing if you want, to . . . some other volcanoes such as Mt Bromo . . . or you could kick on to Surabaya or Yogyakarta.
What about going out after an ashfall?
After an eruption, if you go out, visibility may be reduced, and roads could be slippery from the ash. Your vehicle is likely to stir up more dust and ash. Ash can take out power supplies, and contaminate water supplies.
Can I buy insurance now just in case?
Usually if you have already started your trip and are travelling and away from your normal ‘home’ it is difficult to get insurance, plus, as there have been some officials warnings about the possible eruption and disruption to air travel, it could be that you won’t be able to make a claim or your policy doesn’t cover travel disruption from the event.
Where can I get updates on this situation?
There isn’t a good system for warnings about impending eruptions in English, but you can see some pretty graphics at https://magma.vsi.esdm.go.id. Or check this Ubud Community page.
There is a complex relationship between earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, which means that sometimes there are a series of tremors before a big eruption, or the tremors could be the release of energy or movement of magma. Volcanic eruptions can cause earthquakes, or they can be from the movement of faults. In some cases, volcanologists can work out and predict whether the volcano is about to erupt or just let off a little bit of steam.
If I meditate or pray, can this avert this impending disaster?
You mean, if you spend time in meditation, or prayer, perhaps with others, could this potential disaster somehow be averted? Who knows. But you might want to sort out the things which you have some control over, and the things which are completely out of your control. And you might want to examine your thinking about natural disasters, after, a volcanic eruption is a natural phenomena, and its main impact on humans comes from living in places which are marginal.
How do people behave in volcanic eruptions or quakes?
Events such as eruptions or quakes can bring out the best in humans. But, there will probably be convoys of rubberneckers from Kuta coming to see the ash column erupting from the volcano, and some visitors and expats will start to moan and complain like total do******gs. Hey, we are on the Pacific Ring of Fire, and Indonesia has the most active volcanoes of any nation on earth – 120.
My family and friends back home are worried about me, as they’ve seen the news reports about the volcano and tsunami warning. What should I do?
Use this as an opportunity to tell them you love them, and also, put in a request of the things you would like in your comfort pack from home . . . chocolate, Marmite, S’mores, etc.
Keith Lyons has worked with Red Cross in China after a major earthquake and with environmental ministries, regional government and local authorities on disaster preparedness in New Zealand, China and Myanmar.
Bridging the will of nature to society
