Twelve Hours to Break Through to the Evacuee Location of Mount Lewotobi Eruption

East Flores (November 8, 2024) - The dusk in the waters of Kupang slowly turned into silence. Several small fishing boats had been left behind, and the twilight of the full moon replaced the glow of flashing lights. The signal on the gadgets began to fade, a sign that they were getting further away from the telecommunications beacon.

Before we knew it, the boat containing the logistics from Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) for survivors of the Mount Lewotobi eruption had sailed from Kupang to Larantuka, East Flores for twelve hours. For twelve hours, mile after mile of the sea was slowly passed until 131 nautical miles had been sailed.

Also, on board the boat was Vice Minister of Social Affairs Agus Jabo Priyono who MoSA team to distribute aid to the survivors there.

In an emergency like that, it was indeed not easy to reach the location that Vice Minister Agus was going to.  There is only a sea route that can be taken because several airports around the eruption center were forced to close because of the volcanic ash that covered the sky above the Flobamora land.

Upon arrival at Larantuka Port, East Flores, Thursday (6/11/2024) morning, various logistical assistance from MoSA was immediately distributed by land using trucks to three evacuation points.

During the trip to the location, from a distance gray dust was still visible from the peak of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, a sign that volcanic activity was still high. The vegetation along the slopes of the mountain that used to be green now looks dry and brown due to the impact of volcanic ash from the eruption.

One of the refugees visited by Vice Minister Agus was Agnes Masing Lajar (35), a resident of Hokeng Jaya Village, Wulanggitang District, East Flores who managed to survive the eruption of Mount Lewotobi.

 Agnes said that at the time of the incident, Sunday (3/11/2024) night, she, her husband, her two children, and her father-in-law were resting at home. At that time, they heard a sound like thunder and lightning appeared in the sky.

"There was thunder and lightning in the sky. We thought it was rain, so we ignored it as usual," said Agnes while saying that in the middle of the night, they were surprised by the sound of thunder that was very loud as if it had struck their house.

Not long after, several parts of the zinc roof of their house were seen broken and small pebbles were seen falling.

"When we saw the pebbles falling from the roof, we finally realized that Mount Lewotobi had erupted," continued Agnes.

Immediately, Agnes ran to save herself by carrying her two children, namely Dominikus Rajanamang (12) and Bernardus Demonamang (10). Meanwhile, her husband, Yosep Mutinamang (44), rushed to save Agnes' father-in-law, Bernardus Dainamang (84), who was sick at that time.

 "We were so panicked at that time, we ran to save ourselves in fear, crying, and feeling very anxious," said Agnes, saying that because of the panic, all our belongings including livestock in the form of one pig and five dogs could not be saved.

They then hitched a ride on a pickup truck that was carrying a pile of boxes at that time. The five of them squeezed between the piles of boxes and fled to a village two kilometers from where they were and took shelter in a house.

"We didn't have time to save our belongings, we only ran with the clothes on our bodies and held our cell phones," said Agnes.

While fleeing, Agnes said that sharp gravel rained down from the sky and they only relied on the palms of their hands to protect their heads. This caused several parts of her hands to be bruised.

Meanwhile, in another place, when the eruption occurred, Agnes' sibling, Kanisius Laga Lajar (61) who lives in Klatanlo Village, Wulanggitang District, also became a victim of the eruption.  Unfortunately, Kanisius, his wife, and three children became victims who died.

MoSA has provided compensation assistance to Agnes for her five family members who died due to the Lewotobi eruption. It was handed over directly by Vice Minister Agus to Agnes on Wednesday (6/11/2024).

"Yesterday's assistance from MoSA was in the form of monetary compensation for my brother, his wife, and children who died due to being hit by the volcanic eruption," said Agnes. In addition to monetary assistance, MoSA also assisted in the form of necessities, mattresses, and personal hygiene equipment.

"I feel grateful to MoSA who care about our situation," said Agnes, who seemed touched by what the State had given to her and her family.

Agnes hopes that the condition of Mount Lewotobi can return to normal so that we can return to our normal activities.

"Hopefully the condition of Lewotobi will recover quickly. We miss our hometown, there are many memories there," said Agnes, telling of her longing for her hometown which is still being ravaged by the volcanic ash spewed from Mount Lewotobi.

Agnes' story and the presence of Vice Minister of Social Affairs Agus and the entire team who worked day and night non-stop there gave a new impression to the survivors, that MoSA will always be there in their midst to uncover the gray dust that covers the land of Flobamora.