スメル山噴火で破壊された採砂の村　インドネシア

【チュラコボカンＡＦＰ＝時事】インドネシア・ジャワ島の最高峰スメル山の噴火から３日後。火山に最も近い村は荒れ果て、木々がマッチ棒のように倒れている。（写真はインドネシア・ルマジャン県で、スメル山噴火の火山灰に覆われたおもちゃ）
　火口から２０キロ足らずに位置するチュラコボカン村では７日、救助隊員が工具や救助犬を使って生存者または遺体を捜していた。シュロぶき屋根ははがれ、トタン板も裂けていた。被害を免れた民家は数少ないようだった。
　砂利採取を仕事としている近くの村に住むマルズキ・スガンダさん（３０）は「チュラコボカンの実家は破壊されてしまった」と肩を落とす。「トラウマになった。親戚にチュラコボカンに戻る勇気があるかと聞いたら、みんな『木の下で寝る方がましだ』と答えた」
　ある家では、すべての部屋が屋根の残がいで埋め尽くされていた。破壊されたドアの向こうにつるされた衣服やリュックサックは、火山灰にすっかり覆われていた。
　噴火前、この村には約５０世帯が暮らしていた。住民の多くはスメル山の斜面で砂の採取に従事していた。この一帯の火山性堆積物からは砂がよく採れるが、採砂場や周辺の集落は常に噴火の危険にさらされている。
　「採砂場で働けば、安定した収入は得られる。危険なのは承知だが、他に何ができるというのか」とある男性は語った。
　少なくとも３４人が死亡し、数千人が避難した被災地を訪れたジョコ・ウィドド大統領は、約２０００世帯の移転が必要になる可能性があると述べた。
　だが、採砂に依存している人に選択肢はほとんどない。ある人は「砂山を閉鎖したら政府が私たちを養ってくれるのか？ 別の仕事があるのか？」と訴えた。
　一方、スガンダさんにとって今回の噴火は転機となった。「もう一度ここに住めと言われても、そんな勇気はない」。砂を採る仕事に戻ろうかと何度も考えるが、「ここはゴーストタウンになってしまうだろう。誰も戻りたがらない…住むのはとにかく危険だ」と語った。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/12/09-13:23）

Three days after Indonesia's Mount Semeru erupted and rained burning mud and ash on it, the village closest to the volcano was shrouded in grey -- many of its homes destroyed, streets full of debris and trees felled like matchsticks.
Fewer than 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the crater of Java island's tallest mountain, Curah Kobokan was largely deserted Tuesday as emergency crews combed through husks of buildings with tools and rescue dogs, hoping to find survivors -- or bodies.
As the hot ash spewed by Semeru on Saturday descended on the village, thatch roofs were ripped off weaker structures. The volcanic debris even tore through corrugated metal.
Only a handful of homes appeared to have been spared the worst.
My family house here in Curah Kobokan is destroyed, said sand miner Marzuki Suganda, who lives and works in a nearby village.
I'm traumatised, I asked my relatives if they were brave enough to go back to Curah Kobokan and they all said no, they'd rather sleep under a tree.
Inside the living room of one home, volcanic dust stained everything -- including the coffee table and couch next to it.
The family photos on the walls were hidden behind layers of ash.
The shattered remains of the roof filled all the rooms of the house. Through one destroyed door, some clothes and a backpack hung covered with dark grey dust.
Outside in the muddy and ash-covered streets, a search and rescue operation was under way, with crews going house to house while taking care to avoid uneven, dangerous surfaces and unstable structures.
A small pickup truck was seen loaded with salvaged household items.
- 'We have no solution' -
The village was home to an estimated 50 families before the eruption, many of whom worked at the sand mines that pepper Semeru's slopes.
The volcanic deposits in the area are rich for sand extraction, but they expose the mines and the settlements around them to the constant danger of an eruption.
It's a dilemma... working in a sand mine guarantees stable income, said miner Siyadi, who goes by one name like many Indonesians.
We have needs. I know the risk is high but what else can we do?
Indonesian President Joko Widodo said during a trip to the affected area that around 2,000 homes may need to be relocated after the eruption, which has killed at least 34 people and displaced thousands.
But for many who depend on the sand mines in the shadow of Semeru, there are few other options.
If the government shut down sand mines, would they provide for us? Would there be another job? asked Siyadi.
We have no choice, no solution.
The latest eruption of Semeru was the turning point for Marzuki Suganda, however.
If I were told to live here again, I wouldn't dare, the 30-year-old said.
I'd think 1,000 times about going back to work as a sand miner.
This place will become a ghost town. No ne wants to come back here... It is very dangerous living here.