Weeks after the eruption, local residents remain unsure about what the future holds and how to survive the ongoing calamity.

Mount Semeru erupted on Dec. 4 at 2:50 p.m., covering several villages in Candipuro, East Java, with volcanic ash and killing dozens of residents.

Penanggal village has turned into the main safety zone for many of the people displaced by the event, as nearby villages like Kanjar Kuning, Curah Kobokan and Sumber Wuluh have been blanketed by ash. Practically everything has been wiped out in those areas, except for the empty ruins of houses and dead livestock scattered around.

Local grief

The eruption has left locals grieving for their families and concerned about their future. Husband and wife Imbar Santoso and Syenny Tooy spent days trying to locate their nephew, Okta Tunis Suprianto, who worked as an excavator operator at a local sand mine and went missing during the eruption.

Syenni managed to track down Okta at Dr. Haryoto Hospital in the nearby Lumajang regency. He was in the intensive care unit.

“By the time we arrived, we saw that 90 percent of his face was burnt. While his other body parts had suffered significant burns, they were not as bad as his face,” Syenny said, adding that she was grateful that Okta had been found, as six other excavator operators had gone missing that day.

Imbar had concerns about his nephew’s recovery.

“I personally think that the medical team did not treat him quickly enough, and there’s no guarantee that he will fully recover later,” he said.

Okta regained consciousness on Dec. 7, three days after the eruption.

Umar Faruk, whose house crumbled under the weight of volcanic debris, has not been able to find his uncle Samsul, who worked at the sand mine as well.

Umar, who is staying at the evacuee center at Penanggal, said he considered himself lucky because he was not working at the mine on the day of the eruption.

“According to someone that worked with Samsul that day, they saw the lava and decided to evacuate to the safe zone right away. However, it was raining, and as Samsul tried to cross the river, it dragged him away,” Umar said.

He is now hoping the search and rescue team finds his uncle.

Umiati Laila fled the eruption and has been staying with Penanggal resident Hajj Yul. Before the eruption, Umiati owned a small shop at her house in Curah Kerobokan village, but her village is no longer habitable.

“I’ve lost everything: my house, my paddy field and my shop. Despite this, I’m glad that my family has survived,” Umiati said with tears in her eyes.

To support herself in Penanggal, she has been selling some of the items she managed to collect from her shop before it was destroyed. But her main concern is where she will live next. “I do not know where to go now. I mean, who wants to live in an evacuee camp forever?” she said.

Called home

Despite the continuing uncertainty on the slopes of Mt. Semeru, some locals have decided to return to their houses.

Meilamse Simamora, a volunteer, said some residents were going back and forth to feed their livestock.

“Some of the villagers are worried that their livestock will die of hunger. Even though they have their livestock, the government has kept supplying chicken from the other areas,” Simamora said. He suggested that the government buy the villagers’ animals.

One of the local farmers who keeps returning is Suryadi.

“The reason why I keep going back to my house is to take care of my cows. But I just go back when the weather and conditions are safe for me. At night, I go back to the refugee camp,” he said.

Simamora noted that conditions on the mountain were unpredictable and could be dangerous for the travelers.

Robben Rico, a representative of the Social Affairs Ministry, said the main concern was to get people affected by the eruption to safety. Purchasing livestock, he said, would require local government involvement and a local budget allocation.

“Personally, I think it’s a good idea, but using the state's finances requires further and thorough discussion,” Robben said.

Sugiono, a member of the Lumajang Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) coordinating board, said the consistent travel back and forth from the damaged villages was a hindrance to the evacuation process and was dangerous to the villagers themselves. He also noted that people from outside the area had been arriving to take photos and videos.

"There should be coordination between village institutions and local governments. The fact that the people keep going back home is another obstacle for us. The local authorities should prohibit commotions,” Sugiono said.

“Don’t they know that it is such a difficult time for everyone around here? Have they ever thought about the locals’ feelings?” he said.

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