Car used to rescue Mt. Merapi evacuees turned into monument

A Suzuki APV used as the first vehicle to transport evacuees from when Mount Merapi was about to erupt in October last year has been turned into a monument.

The vehicle was used by its owner, search and rescue volunteer Agus Wiyarto, together with Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) volunteer Tutur Priyanto and Vivanews.com reporter Yuniawan Wahyu Nugroho to drive up the mountain and rescue those on the mountain when ash was raining down.

The vehicle, which was ruined by the hot ash, is currently placed near the location of where the house of Mbah Maridjan, the spiritual guardian of Mount Merapi, once stood, as reported by tribunnews.com.

Mbah Maridjan passed away when hot gas swept down the mountain.