Hell hath no fury like Mother Nature scorned

Warning: No photos today. Just an interesting story... well at least I think so.

The facts: Indonesia is a country besieged by natural disasters. Precariously perched on the Pacific Ring of Fire, there are volcanoes erupting, earthquakes, and tsunamis. The news has been littered with stories about the most recent disaster that occurred just a few days ago off the coast of Sumatra. A 7.7 earthquake struck at the same fault (out in the ocean) that shook that part of the world in 2004. The earthquake six years ago set off a tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in more than 10 countries. Padang, Sumatra was one of the hardest hit regions. In the past 48 hours, they have endured 15 earthquakes (the primary tremor followed by 14 aftershocks), and a tsunami that wiped away homes and entire villages in Sumatra and the remote Mentawi Islands (very famous surf spot). One small village of 200 people is completely gone and only 40 people have been found so far. The death toll is rising (more than 100 confirmed, 500 still missing, reports still coming in) and rescue crews can’t get to some of the islands because the conditions are too dangerous. All of the shaking going on in the Northwestern corner of Indonesia has disturbed a volcano on the island of Java called Mt. Merapi. The last I heard 25 people had been killed.

The story: A spiritual leader, a shaman of sorts, named Mbah Maridjan guards Mt. Merapi. It is his job to maintain harmony with the volcano so that the villages at the base of this volatile mountain can live in peace. Two years ago, reports from seismologists indicated that Mt. Merapi would erupt with furor. Government officials issued warnings and directed villagers to evacuate. The villagers did not go from their homes. The trusted elder, Mbah Maridjan, assured them that Merapi was at peace, and he was right. Merapi did not spew fire and ash as predicted. As predictions that Merapi might react to the recent earthquake poured in, Indonesians, particularly the Javanese, looked to Mbah Maridjan for reassurance. As is the custom and belief here, Mbah Maridjan began to pray. This morning he was found at Mt. Merapi kneeling in pray with his hands outstretched along the ground. Mbah Maridjan had passed away. Within hours of the guardian’s death, Mt. Merapi began erupting.