A. Emergency/Disaster Situation
Egon volcano is also named Namang volcano located in Waigete and Bola Districts, Sikka Regency. The highest peak is 1703 m above sea level, has a crater of about 350 m in diameter and the crater's depth is about 200 m. In the crater base is filled by mud and dries on the dry season, whereas the solfataric activities occur on the crater wall and also on the crater rim with temperatures between 104°- 116° C. The solfataric activity is also occurred on the upper part of south slope.
The eruption activities of Mt. Egon are generally as pyroclastic flows or also mentioned hot cloud. This eruption will shifted to the west through the opening crater, an than turn to north or south passing the valleys that connecting to the opening crater. Several valleys which will be passed by the pyroclastic flows are to the north through the valleys of Waigete, Waitabong and Waileloe, whereas to the south through the valleys of Wailere, Waiara and Waihale. Those valleys have upstream on the summit of Mt. Egon and downstream on the north and south coasts
The eruptions of Mt. Egon are not frequently. Sapper (1927) noted that the eruption of Mt. Egon occurred in 1888, 1891 and 1892, and those eruptions were reported as ash columns from the summit of Mt. Egon. Neumann van Padang (1951) noted that eruption occurred in the central crater on 28 September 1907, and in April 1925 occurred a solfataric explosion in the west part of the crater.
Egon volcano showed increase on activity since 29 January 2004, preceded by booming noise from the summit at 04.00 WITA (local time). Local people who climbed to the volcano described that the sound caused by collapse of east part of crater wall. The material of wall collapse cascade into the crater. At 17.00 WITA ash explosion occurred, produced dark-thick ash column as high as 750 m above the summit. Within 30 and 31 January 2004, booming noise continue along with grey ash emission and strong sulfur smell. Ash emission occurred once every 50 - 60 minutes. Field observation on 31 January noted that there was a new solfatara tunnel created at southern slope. On 31 January 2004, at 16.10 WITA deep volcanic earthquake recorded followed by harmonic tremor 2 hours later, and booming noise explosion earthquake occurred 4 hours later. On 1 February 2004, seismograph recorded 2 events of tremor and 1 event of deep volcanic earthquakes. Volcano status upgraded into alert level 3 since 2 February 2004.
B. Impact to Human Lives
Egon showed increasing activities since Thursday, 29 January 2004 when the surrounding communities in villages under the mountain felt a few quake and saw thick volcanic ash/ solfatar and fire spark. Hundreds of animals such as birds seem running down from the mount. According to the eye witness' report of our volunteer there, 2 trucks of people came down from Waigete district and seek for refugees at the office of bupati (head of regency) in the early morning on the following day on January 31. Following the first group, more people from the surrounding villages such as from Hale, Hebing, Natakoli and Egon Gahar villages are evacuated to Maumere city and amounted up to about 5,171 people (data on Jan 30 from the head of public relation of government in Maumere).
The panic evacuees are located in temporary shelters in Maumere such as Wisma Transito, House of People Representative office (DPRD), SKB, abbey, PDAM and building of Candraditya belong to Catholic Philosophy School of Ledalero.
Health condition of the evacuees in temporary shelter (2 - 7 February)
Health problems mainly depends on the condition of their settlement. Almost all camps do not provide adequate bed/mat. Not all of the IDPs get plaited mat given, thus many of them sleep on the tarpaulin or cold and damp floor.
1. In Surya Mekar
The major health problem is Malaria, 15 people from 70 patients, followed by Respiratory Infection, then followed by sore-eye. Diarrhea start to emerge on February 2, 2004 with 6 people got it, according to the Health department officer, the diarrhea caused by consuming raw water.
IDPs occupy warehouse, sleep on the tarp and plaited mat. Clean water is dropped everyday, so there is no clean water lack. The water tanks are in the form of 5 big Jerrycans and 1 tank of 1100s liter. Until February 5, the amount of the IDPs are 658 people, in the afternoon some IDPs would be removed to Kewa Pante, because the camp was too crowded.
2. In Wisma Transito
The major health problem is Respiratory Infection, 56 people from 224 patients, followed by Gastritis (33 people, Malaria 29 people, Diarrhea (5 people). In Transito the Respiratory Infection patient are not much since 80% of the 659 IDPs sleep on bed.
3. In Dispenda office
The IDPs sleep on plaited mat. Up to February 5, total patient 250 people. The major health problem is Respiratory Infection (78 people), followed by Malaria (41 people), itchy (20 people), Diarrhea (2 people).
4. In Metolis Kewa Pante
There are 133 IDPs in camp and 104 IDPs in local houses, 27 of whom are under-3-year-old children and 6 babies. The IDPs sleep on plaited mat, the major health problem is Respiratory Infection (62 people), followed by Malaria (22 people), itchy (7 people), Diarrhea (2 people).
5. In Yayasan Bambu Geliting office
There are 55 IDPs, moved from camp Surya Mekar. Total patient are 22 people. The major health problem is Respiratory Infection. Most of the IDPs who were moved to Yayasan Bambu are pregnant women and breastfeed mothers and their family. The condition of the camp is quite adequate.
Common problem faced by the IDPs of mount Egon are bed/mat, supplementary food for babies, children and pregnant women. Clean water is quite adequate since there are water tank from Kimpraswil (Pemukiman dan Prasarana Wilayah = division of local settlement & infrastructure development) and YEU. Some camps lack of latrine facilities, such as in Metolis, old DPRD, PDIP, Bangsal Lasarus and Surya Mekar.
C. Implementation of Planned Activities
1. Clean Water
Provision of clean water for IDPs started since 3 February, after coordinating with Provincial Coordinating Unit for the Management of Disaster and IDPs/Refugees (SATKORLAK). Regular water provision for settlement/camps in Candraditya, SKB, Dispenda and old DPRD.
2. Health Care
The health care done under collaboration between YEU and its networking partner the PRR abbey from Larantuka. The health care planned to be held for four days. After coordinating with local Health Department, the health care team from YAKKUM Emergency Unit is divided into 2 teams, each team would serve in 2 camps per day.
3. Latrine facilities
Technical preparation was conducted after the needs of some camps identified. The implementation was delayed after seeing the positive progress of the security level in their villages, based on the radio report of Egon Mountain and waiting for the official statement from the government about the subsequent IDPs management.
D. Coordination
The coordination of aid is handled by Satlak (task force) in Sikka and Dinsos (social division). The active stakeholders in responding the needs of people I Mt Egon eruption are :
1. CD Bethesda
2. CIS GMKI Kupang
3. Dian Desa
4. Dinkes (Health Department)
5. FKPB Kupang
6. Local Volunteer
7. PRR abbey in Larantuka
8. SSPS abbey in Maumere
9. Truk F
10. Volcanology Maumere
11. Water Department (PDAM)
12. YEU
13. YPI Atambua
Lesson learned from Mt Egon eruption are:
1. Early warning system from local wisdom (when animals come down from the mountain) works well and can eliminate the casualties
2. The coordination with all stakeholders including Government is optimal and benefited by the victims/ affected population
3. Existing resources can be shared and meet the most need of the affected people in short notice.
4. Flores is a disaster prone areas since geographically it is located between coast and mountain with extreme climate (YEU was alert by situation in Mt. Lewotobi - August, 2003), responded the floods and landslides in April 203 and tsunami in 1994).
5. The decreased activity of Mt. Egon does not mean that it will not erupt again in the near future. Still worry remains in mind of the people living surrounding the mount.