The city of Students shook. Merapi began to activate after a long period of slumber. It started to spit volcanic ashes to Yogya as well as the area around. People left the city, afraid of the rage of the mountain.
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| photos taken from: here |
Emma is one of the college students in Yogya, who went back to her hometown because f the Merapi eruption. She left Yogya a few days before the predicted peak of eruption. Situation was chaotic in town. Roads were full of ashes and grey clouds hung on the sky. Eerie feeling of ‘grey town’ strongly came from the previously bright and eccentric town.
Emma here went home by train, taking Prameks train to her hometown, Kebumen. The crowded station was a common sight for days. Trains leaving Yogya always packed every day. Similar situation could be found at bus stations. Bus was also another means of leaving the ash-buried town. In town, people were wearing masks issued by government and social organizations. It was to protect them from respiration problem that might be caused by the dangerous volcanic ashes in the air.
Emma also claimed, “The eruption will probably reach UGM campus, so we were planning to go home,”
Indeed, a lot of people were leaving for the same reason. Universities also canceled their classes in hope that the students could evacuate to a safer place.
Prior to and after the eruption, Yogya had lesser population. Most shops were closed. Though some of them still open despite the thick ash in the air. The condition lasted for about a month after the eruption stopped. Universities announced that classes will be held again and soon Yogya got back its liveliness. Though those at the feet of Merapi were still suffering from damages and causalities caused by the eruption.
by Dian Kartika D.
source: Emma Arifiani
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