Camaraderie Village, Harmony in Merapi

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA (BAH)

Sick residents were taken to the Muntilan Hospital Emergency Room, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Tuesday (26/10/2020). The collaboration of all elements of society when Merapi spewed hot clouds succeeded in saving many residents on the slopes of Merapi.

The commotion of evacuation during the eruption of Mount Merapi in 2010 became a turning point for improving disaster mitigation in Magelang regency, Central Java. Three years later, the concept of the camaraderie village was introduced. Now, a double challenge awaits, namely saving residents from both the eruption and COVID-19.

Winarti, 38, a resident of Keningar village, Dukun district, Magelang regency, Central Java, followed advice to evacuate to Ngrajek village, Mungkid district, Sunday (11/8/2020). Nine months into pregnancy, she joined 130 other evacuees because her residence was in the danger zone of the eruption of Mount Merapi.