Indonesia - Managing Volcanoes Case Study

• Background of Indonesia

  1. Plate boundary - convergent (subduction) -> Indo-Australian and Eurasian
  2. Type of eruptions - frequent; explosive; high threat from lahars (quantities of ash erupted) - humid tropical climate (> 1,800 mm rainfall per year)
  3. Economic development - EDC = may not be able to manage/mitigate as well as AC countries
• How does Indonesia mitigate against volcanic events?

  1. Some villages have artificial mounds to enable villagers to escape to higher ground, although adequate warning required in order to be effective
  2. Authorities have cleared river channels of volcanic material and other debris to reduce flooding risk and to contain lahars
  3. Other than this, still yet to have direct strategies to combat events- don’t have resources to successfully mitigate (EDC v AC)
• How does Indonesia mitigate against vulnerability from volcanoes?

  1. Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) upgraded monitoring instruments & widen geographical coverage = more than 60 volcanoes monitored today; sophisticated equipment measures gas emissions/inflation as magma rises etc.
  2. National Agency for Disaster Management = lahar sensors & closed-circuit television have been installed to monitor locations at greater risk.
  3. CVGHM works with local governments = advising them on mitigation strategies (i.e. community preparedness).
  4. On Mount Merapi, permanent settlement banned on highest slopes around the crater - villagers on southern slopes encouraged to relocate to safer zones (in some case, receive financial incentive/a small plot of land)
• Limitations of Indonesia's mitigation of vulnerability?

  1. Capability of technology compared to AC countries = limited.
  2. Previously Dutch colony (until end of WW2) - emergence into independence = political tension/violence among groups -> managing volcanoes given little priority.
  3. Not all of Indonesia’s volcanoes are monitored
• How does Indonesia mitigate against losses from volcanoes?

  1. Indonesia has some well-trained/equipped emergence services - i.e. the military are experienced in search & rescue
  2. Temporary shelters available in safe zones = in case of evacuation - sometimes these are upgraded into permanent residential areas
  3. Authorities clear river channels of volcanic material/other debris = reduce risk of flooding/contain certain lahars - some of material = commercial use (i.e. road building); people along river valleys have used to rebuild houses/community facilities
• Limitations of Indonesia's mitigation against losses?

  1. People have strong bond with their village site/family fields = often return, rebuild and accept the risks
  2. EDC = resources it can deploy once an eruption is underway are limited - many of farming communities affected = limited resources