Gas exploration company PT Lapindo Brantas Inc.

Mudflow scatters

villagers in Sidoarjo

Foto's zijn van: Budi Sugiharto.
Jalan tol is geblokkeerd.
Monument in Sidoarjo(eigen foto, Louis Baseler).

Mudflow scatters villagers
(Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Sidoarjo)
Three weeks of an unceasing, foul-smelling mudflow from a gas well accident have uprooted more locals in East Java's Porong district and forced them to shelter in cramped markets, schools and government offices.
On Sunday, more than 3,800 residents from the four worst-hit villages near Sidoarjo were staying at newly built Pasar Baru Porong market, which was scheduled to begin operation in July. Others are camped out in school buildings, offices and local mosques.
The stench of the steaming mudflow that began May 29 has sickened hundreds of people, disrupted goods traffic to the nearby East Java capital of Surabaya and brought industry to a standstill.
The number of people staying at the market has sharply increased recently from about 2,700 in the first few days after the leak.
Siring village chief Pain Ghozali said their homes were flooded by the mud.
"They prefer to flee to safety by bringing along their valuables due to the fear the mudflow will increase," he said.
Other villagers are staying with relatives in Surabaya or other cities.

The mud leak started on May 29, two days after a powerful earthquake struck Yogyakarta and surrounding areas.
The hot mud flow was initially small and was not considered dangerous. The output of mud grew, however, until about 5,000 cubic meters leaked from the well each day.

Gas exploration company PT Lapindo Brantas Inc. is er allemaal de oorzaak van. Tijdens het boren naar gas, is de controle over de gasboring verloren. Er ontstond toen een z.g.n. "spuiter".

Ik heb in de omgeving van deze nieuwe ramp, in Indonesia, vaak gefietst. Sidoarjo ligt tussen Surabaya en Pasuruan in. Het ligt langs de jalan tol, de tolweg. Ik kwam er ook als ik er naar mijn collega's fietste bij Cargill Pasuruan.

Zoals altijd is de gewone bevolking er weer behoorlijk de dupe van!

Foto's zijn van: Budi Sugiharto.