Indonesian aid efforts hindered by Mount Merapi erupting again

After the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia, the seismic activity triggered an eruption of Mount Merapi. Mount Merapi has erupted a second time. Over 30 people died in the original Mount Merapi eruption, who were being buried just as the second occurred. The effects of the Indonesia earthquake have decimated the area. Nearly a thousand people are dead or missing as a result of the quake and ensuing tsunami. Aid organizations have a difficult task in reaching some of the harder hit areas.

Second Mount Merapi eruption

On Java Island, an additional eruption originated from the Mount Merapi volcano. The BBC Reports that just two days before was the first erruption. Because of burns or suffocation from gasses, there were 32 people killed with the first erruption. Outside of Sidorejo is a communal grave south of the volcano where 20 of those were buried. The spiritual guardian of the volcano, Maridjan, was killed there. Following the second eruption, aid workers and victims within the area have started to show respiratory symptoms as a result of exposure, and aid workers are still looking for possible victims of the initial blast.

Getting aid is difficult

Aid and relief efforts are slow going. As a result of the flooding and the terrible terrain, victims of the Indonesia earthquake haven't been getting much aid. CNN reports that traveling to the Pagai Islands, which is where was hit hardest, will take at least a day. The hardest hit islands by the Indonesian tsunami were surrounding islands of Sumatra and Java. As a result of the earthquake and tsunami, 300 are missing when 400 were killed. Those without homes is an even larger number. Thousands have nowhere to go.

Nonprofits and UN both send aid

SurfAid is just one of the nonprofits that is sending relief workers and aid along with the United Nations. There is going to be time needed to fix the difficulties from the volcanic eruptions, earthquake and tsunami more than other things.

More on this topic

CNN

us.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/10/28/indonesia.quake/index.html

BBC

bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11641549

Relief efforts slowed by second Mount Merapi eruption

Days after a devastating earthquake and consequent eruption, Mount Merapi has erupted again in Indonesia. The first occurred just after the earthquake. Over 30 people were killed in the initial Mount Merapi eruption. The Indonesia earthquake has thrashed the region. The tsunami and earthquake resulted in almost a thousand dead and missing. The area is battered, and filled with displaced people. Aid is starting to trickle in, but delivering it is difficult.

Second eruption Mount Merapi makes

The volcano on Java island erupted a second time. This was Mount Merapi. There was one eruption two days earlier. This is what the BBC reports. In the initial eruption, 32 people were killed, most succumbing either to burns or to suffocation from the gases. Outside of Sidorejo is a communal grave south of the volcano where 20 of those were buried. Among the deceased was Maridjan, a local elder who was considered the spiritual guardian of the volcano. The exposure from the blast has caused many victims to start showing respiratory problems. Also, aid workers are still looking for victims who were hit by the first blast that occurred.

Hard to get aid in

It has been slow for aid and relief efforts to get there. There hasn't been much aid coming in for victims of the Indonesia earthquake. This is because the terrain is so terrible along with the flooding happening. CNN reports that traveling to the Pagai Islands, which is where was hit hardest, will take at least a day. The hardest hit islands by the Indonesian tsunami were surrounding islands of Sumatra and Java. 400 were killed because of the earthquake and tsunami. That's not even counting the missing of 300 people. There are thousands that no longer have a home.

UN and nonprofits send aid

The United Nations has sent in relief workers and aid. Nonprofits such as SurfAid has sent in some too. There is going to be time needed to fix the problems from the volcanic eruptions, earthquake and tsunami more than anything else.

Further reading

CNN

us.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/10/28/indonesia.quake/index.html

BBC

bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11641549