Bali eruption. Volcanic eruption on the island of Bali: Is there a danger to Russian tourists
Last day in Bali. How to avoid becoming a victim of a volcanic eruption
On the island of Bali popular destination for tourists from all over the world, an ancient volcano that has been sleeping for more than half a century is about to wake up. Now there is a huge number of tourists, among them there are residents of Russia. 360 hopes that everyone will be able to leave the eruption area before it starts, and yet we have compiled instructions on how to be as safe as possible before, during and after this disaster.
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What's happening? Volcano Agung on the island of Bali (Indonesia), which has been sleeping since 1963, has begun to awaken, giant columns of ash fly out of its mouth into the air. The country's authorities announced the need to evacuate 100,000 people from the surrounding area. Of these, more than 50 thousand are tourists, among whom there are Russians (300 people only according to official data). At the same time, the airport in Denpasar, largest city islands, stopped flying because of the ash. They plan to resume on Tuesday, but depending on the situation, this decision may be postponed.
How likely is a major eruption? The volcano has been assigned the fourth - highest - threat level. The previous eruption of Agung in 1963 claimed the lives of about 1.7 thousand people, but it is not known what signs preceded its eruption. Now the ash is rising to a height of more than three kilometers, the Indonesian Center for Volcanology has announced the threat of a pyroclastic flow: a mixture of high-temperature volcanic gases, ash and lava, the speed of which can reach 700 kilometers per hour.
How is the evacuation going? Last week, when the volcano had just begun to spit out ash, about 25 thousand people fled from the place. Now the sounds emitted by the volcano can be heard 11 kilometers around Agung, and the authorities are already talking about the need to withdraw 100,000 people. It is noteworthy that 145 thousand people left their homes back in September, when seismic activity around the volcano increased sharply, but in October everyone returned, when the danger seemed to subside.
Under what signs should you immediately leave the eruption zone? It is necessary to carefully listen to the warnings of volcanologists and the services responsible for the evacuation. They have more information than a single tourist or even a local resident, explains volcanologist, doctor of geological and mineralogical sciences Pavel Plechov. Only experts can determine the zones that are safe during the eruption. If a person suddenly finds himself in a place where there are no appropriate warnings and services, you just need to leave the possible disaster zone as soon as possible, move 10 kilometers away from a live volcano.
How to survive if you are still in the zone of a volcanic eruption? The most important thing is to protect the airways. Volcanic ash is very dangerous for mucous membranes. In fact, it is a very finely crushed glass with sharp edges. In order not to inhale the ashes, you need to cover yourself with cotton-gauze bandages or something similar, at least with a rag soaked in water, Pchelov notes. Water must be filtered and all hygiene precautions generally observed. You can not be afraid of lava; in the entire history of mankind, only a few have died from it during eruptions. However, it is better not to go down into the lowlands and river valleys, because the pyroclastic flows will go there first of all.
What should be done after the eruption? Again, it is necessary to strictly observe all sanitary standards - filter water, check the freshness of food and in no case eat anything covered with volcanic ash, emphasizes Pchelov. In general, if it is possible to stay in a safe room, it is better to stay there until the announcement of the relevant services that you can go outside (by radio, Internet or otherwise). And even then, before going out, you need to make sure that your body is completely covered, from head to toe, and your airways are covered - the air after the eruption is no less toxic than during it.
In July 2015, the Indonesian island of Bali was in the spotlight of the general public. The sky above it was covered with ash. Thousands of tourists were blocked at the airport. The government evacuated local residents from the natural disaster zone. But they were under a layer of volcanic ash. And several villages located on the slopes of the fire-breathing mountain burned down. How often does this situation occur in Bali? for Indonesia - a phenomenon not uncommon. After all, the state-archipelago is included in the so-called fiery belt of the Earth. This strip, stretching from Kamchatka to the equator along the coast Pacific Ocean, is still suffering from the violent tectonic activity of our planet. But Bali is also a popular tourist destination. Wide beaches with white sand, mountains with murmuring streams, crystal waterfalls and lush greenery of the tropical jungle... Add to all this first-class service and well-developed tourist infrastructure. Are travelers really at risk when they come to this tropical paradise? Read about it in our article.
Explosive Indonesia
Every year, seismologists register about seven thousand earthquakes in this country. The number is certainly impressive. But don't let this fact discourage you from visiting Indonesia. The lion's share of tremors is recorded only by sensitive instruments. But, nevertheless, seismologists vigilantly monitor the activity of the subsoil under After all, tremors can be symptoms of a much more dangerous phenomenon - a volcanic eruption. These mountains in Indonesia are truly deadly. Only one harbinger of an eruption - the release of sulfuric gases - can kill all living things nearby. Columns of smoke cover the entire sky with an impenetrable haze. Hot stones are falling - volcanic bombs. And the lava flows down, burning everything in its path. There are five hundred volcanoes in Indonesia. But only 128 of them are active, and 65 are recognized as especially dangerous. Are volcanoes dangerous in Bali and how dangerous? We hasten to assure you that most of the eruptions take place in Sumatra. In a favorite with tourists tropical paradise The situation is not so tense. Although…
Active volcanoes in Bali
To calm down a little, let's remember school science, or rather, fifth grade geography. Volcanoes are extinct, dormant and active. Seismologists decide which category to attribute this or that mountain to based on the date of the last eruption. Bali is a volcanic island by its origin. But not all mountains on it are potentially dangerous. After all, the island was formed millions of years ago. And if this or that volcano erupted for the last time more than ten thousand years ago, it is called extinct. When he was active 3500 years ago, he is recorded as dormant. Now about the situation in Bali. It is believed that there are only two active volcano. These are Gugung ("Mountain") Agung and Batur. All other volcanoes in Bali are extinct or dormant. Therefore, you can safely go to this island. Last eruption volcano in Bali happened in 2000. You can’t call it a real explosion - Gugung Batur threw out a column of ash three hundred meters high, and that was the end of the matter. But in 1964 there was a real eruption (from the same volcano). The highest point of the island of Gugung Agung has not been active for a very long time.
Dangerous neighborhood?
Two active volcanoes on one small island is still too much, fearful tourists will think. And they will be wrong. One has only to look at the population density around local volcanoes how you will dispel the slightest fear. Small villages can be found even in craters. Farmers are attracted to this neighborhood because the mineral-rich volcanic ash is an excellent fertilizer for the soil. Due to the altitudinal zonality, a mild microclimate has developed on the slopes of the mountain, conducive to a good harvest. There are also no problems with watering the crops, since it often rains for a short time on the slopes of the mountains. Any volcano in Bali is held in high esteem by the locals. Temples on the slopes testify to this. And since these structures are old, we can conclude that the neighborhood with the volcano is not considered dangerous by the locals. The tourism industry in Bali uses these mountains for excursions.
Significance of volcanoes for local residents
In the religion and culture of the Indonesians, the mythical mountain Mahameru was the center of the universe. This axis of the universe split in half. This is how Agung and Batur arose - volcanoes, on top of which the gods live. All villages in Bali are oriented towards the highest mountain of the island. Residents go to bed with their heads towards Gugung Agung - so that the soul is close to the gods. Legend has it that before the rise of volcanoes, the island was deserted and barren. This is partly true: the ashes fertilize the local soil well. The gods come down to the people on big holidays, and then return to the tops. To honor them, temples have been built on the slopes of the volcanoes. Since Agung is the most high mountain islands, then the Besakih complex is the most revered place of worship. This volcano in Bali is under the auspices of Batara Mahadeva (in local Hinduism, Shiva). Once every hundred years, the Eka Dasa Rudra ceremony is held at the Besakih temple on the slopes of Agung - "cleansing the world of all sins." And this holiday in 1963 turned into a tragedy.
Agung eruption
The world cleansing ceremony was scheduled for the spring of 1963. However, when Mount Agung woke up in Bali in February, the priests said that the inhabitants had chosen the wrong date for the ritual. Say, Shiva does not want to go down to people on this day and expresses his dissatisfaction with the columns of smoke coming from the crater of the mountain. Volcanologists also agreed with the priests. They warned Indonesian President Sukarno that Agung was showing signs of activity and an eruption might begin. However, he had already invited foreign delegations to the celebration and did not want to postpone the ceremony. On March 18, 1963, the Agung eruption entered an active phase. There were explosions of the crater, lava descended. The Besakih temple miraculously was not damaged. The lava flow passed only a few meters from the buildings. However, a large number of people then died. Now the top of the volcano resembles a lunar landscape, which tourists come to admire. And the locals still honor Agung. They hang offerings on a curved bamboo penjor pole, which in outline resembles the most high peak islands.
Gugung Agung
This is the highest stratovolcano in Bali - its peak rises 3142 meters above sea level. It is located in the eastern part of the island. The name Gugung Agung is translated as "Great Mountain". In the entire history of observations, a volcanic eruption in Bali occurred only four times: in 1808, 1821, 1843 and 1963-1964. The latter was the most significant and powerful. Then two thousand people died, lava and mudflows came down. Crimson sunsets, which were then observed in Europe, were associated, according to some scientists, with the release into the atmosphere of a large amount of ash from the mouth of the Agung. After the eruption, the parameters of the crater also changed. Now it is an oval funnel five hundred meters long and two hundred wide. The volcano showed little activity in the 1980s. In 2000-2001, an abnormally hot temperature in the springs was noticed near Agung. Now the "Great Mountain" is dormant... Under the close attention of volcanologists.
Volcano Batur in Bali
It is the third highest mountain on the island. It is located very close to Agung. For tourists, Batur is favorite place for climbs. Why? First, height. 1717 meters is not three thousand. The hike itself, if you start it very early in the morning, lasts half a day, and you can relax on the beaches. Secondly, at the foot of Batur there is a lake of the same name, the most picturesque in the area. There are temples on the slopes of the volcano. One of tourist attractions Batura are jets of hot steam. They make their way from various crevices of the mountain, reminding careless travelers that the volcano is active. Guides assure that it is quite possible to cook scrambled eggs in the jets of this steam. The last eruption of Batur occurred (in a duet with Agung) in 1964. After that, the volcano threw a column of ash up to three hundred meters in 2000, as a result of which the international airport was closed for several days. Batur is quiet now. Only jets of steam warn of a hidden threat.
Batukaru
It is the second largest volcano in Bali. Its height is two thousand three hundred and fifty meters. On the slopes of this extinct volcano there is also a temple - Pura Luhur. The road to it leads through the forest with frisky monkeys. Climbing this mountain is recommended to take good pictures of the island from a bird's eye view.
Caldera Chatur
When our planet was still young, the volcanoes on it were just huge. When they erupted, calderas formed with many independent peaks. Such is now Chatur - a ridge of volcanoes stretching for eleven kilometers. Excursions go to Sengayang, Pohang, Lesung and Pengilingan, as this region is famous for its thermal springs. Still there are beautiful lakes- Bro, Tamblingan and Brawler. To the southwest of Chatur rises Batukaru, the second highest volcano in Bali.
What happened in the summer of 2015
On the third of June, the news came that the skies over Bali airport were closed. Because the island is popular tourist destination The news caused a stir. Is there a new volcanic eruption in Bali? Batur has been sleeping since 1964, and Agung too. What happened? In fact, the seismological situation has worsened in Java and Sumatra. Noise made He woke up in early 2014, killing sixteen people. The mountain is located in the north of Sumatra. In the summer of this year, Sinabung threw volcanic ash into the sky. Columns of thick smoke reached a height of two thousand meters, temporarily making air traffic impossible. In July, two more volcanoes in Java woke up - Gamalama and Raung. Nine hundred flights were canceled because of them.
Tourist attraction or serious risk?
So should you be afraid of volcanoes in Bali? As the reviews of tourists show, and measured and quiet life the islanders themselves, there is no cause for concern. Volcanoes do not wake up instantly and unexpectedly. Their eruption is preceded by various phenomena, such as an increase in the temperature of the sources, the release of gases. Especially attractive for tourists is such a volcano on the island of Bali as Batur.
Volcano in Bali tourist attraction, plays an important role in the cultural and spiritual life of the Balinese. There are two volcanoes in Bali - Mount Agung and Mount Batur. Neighborhood with formidable giants could not but be reflected in folklore and fine arts. The volcanoes Batur and Agung also influence the daily life of the islanders and the climate of Bali.
Volcano Agung
Most high volcano in Bali rises to 3142 meters above sea level and is highest point islands. The name can be translated as " great mountain". Belongs to the type of stratovolcanoes. The crater of the volcano has dimensions of 500 by 200 meters. Located in the eastern part of the island. During the history of observations, the volcano erupted only 5 times - in 1808, 1821, 1843, in 1963-1964 and in 2018. Moreover, the eruption of 1963 was the most powerful and destructive and was accompanied by the convergence of mud flows from the slopes of the volcano.
According to some sources, crimson sunsets in Europe were caused by this particular eruption. According to rough estimates, about 2,000 people living near Agung died. In the 1980s, there was little activity from the volcano. In 2000-2001, thermal anomalies occurred at the foot of Mount Agung. On this moment Agung is dormant, but this volcano in Bali is under the scrutiny of Indonesian volcanologists.
Volcano Agung also affects the amount of precipitation in various. Clouds coming from the West of the island are trapped by the slopes of the mountain and as a result this area receives more moisture. Due to this, the eastern regions of Bali are drier and hotter.
Volcano Batur
It also belongs to the type of stratovolcanoes and rises to 1717 meters. It is located in the northeastern part of the island in the Kintamani area and is one of the attractions of the island. The outer caldera (circus-shaped basin) of the volcano has a size of 10 by 13.5 km. and was formed 29,300 years ago during colossal eruptions. Lake Batur is located in the inner caldera of the volcano. The Batur volcano is quite active and the last major eruption was in 1968, as evidenced by the solidified basalt lava flows.
The last significant activity of the volcano was observed in 2000, when a column of ash rose 300 meters. In 2012, UNESCO declared the territory of the volcano's caldera a Geological Park. For tourists who want to enjoy the stunning beauty of the view, a similar excursion is organized. The ascent, accompanied by a guide, will take only 3 hours. Also, a popular one is organized to the volcano, during which you can see Batur itself and other sights of the center of the island.
The significance of the volcano in Bali in culture and religion
In Balinese-Hindu mythology, the center of the universe, its axis of the universe is the sacred mountain Mahameru, which the Gods later split and two of the most sacred mountains in Bali appeared - Agung and Batur. The Balinese believe that the peaks of volcanoes are the abode of gods and deified ancestors, who descend to people several times a year (during the time) and then return again. All Balinese villages are oriented towards Agung, and the Balinese always try to sleep with their heads towards the top, since according to beliefs, the human soul is in the head and in this case it will be closer to the gods.
The patron saint of Mount Agung is Batara Mahadeva (in traditional Hinduism, Shiva), who personifies the masculine principle. The legends of the island tell that before the appearance of Agung and Batur, the island of Bali was a lifeless and barren plain. The legend is partly right - the island owes its fertile soil rich in minerals to volcanoes.
On the slopes of Mount Agung is the most important and revered temple in Bali - the "mother" of all temples in Bali. According to ancient Balinese texts, once every 100 years, it is in this temple that the unique and most important ceremony of cleansing the whole world from sins is held - Eka Dasa Rudra. Such a ceremony was scheduled in 1963.
When the volcano woke up in February 1963 and began to make itself felt, the high priests began to claim that this was a very bad sign from the gods and the Balinese chose the wrong date for the ceremony. However, the then President of Indonesia, Sukarno, who invited a foreign delegation to Bali, ordered the ceremony to be held anyway.
However, already on March 18, explosions occurred and the active phase of the eruption began, during which a large number of people died. Although the Besakih temple was located on the slope of the volcano, it remained intact and the lava passed a few meters from the buildings. The Balinese found an explanation for this miracle in the fact that the Gods decided to take pity on the majestic temple. Although another temple, Pura Pasar Agung, was not so lucky and was completely destroyed. Bali's most significant volcano can also be recognized in decorations during ceremonies and festivals, when the Balinese decorate their doorsteps with a tall, curved bamboo pole called a penjor. This pole, bending under the weight of gifts to the gods at the end, repeats the contours of Agung and symbolizes him.
Lake Batur in the caldera of the Batur volcano is considered sacred by the Balinese and is one of the abode of the Balinese goddess of fresh water Devi Danu, in whose honor the Ulun Danu Batur temple was erected (it is also dedicated to her in the Bedugul region).
It is believed that the sacred lake is fed by 11 springs. The water from them then flows to other islands through underground channels. It is forbidden to swim in the lake, you can only fish and irrigate the land.
There are many legends about this. One of them tells how the king on the island of Java Sri Jaya Pangus and his wife Kang Ching Wi had no children for a long time. And the king decided to leave his wife and go on a long journey. After a storm, he was thrown onto the shore of a magical island. After trying to explore the island, he decided to meditate. To do this, he found himself a place near a beautiful and clean lake(Batur). When he woke up, he saw the goddess Devi Dana in front of him. The goddess seduced him and he stayed with her. After years of waiting, Kang Ching Wi's wife went in search of her husband. However, I found him in Bali already married to Devi Dana and with a child. Out of resentment, she ordered her guards to kill Sri Jai. In response to this, Devi Danu turned the king and queen into statues. The son became the heir to the throne and the dynasty continued to exist.
The second most important volcano in Bali is especially revered by. They live in isolation from the rest of the world in the village of Trunyan on a small strip of land. It is located between the Batur caldera and the lake. This tribe is known for burying the dead simply by placing them under a special magical tree. locals explain their isolation with a legend. According to it, a Javanese prince fell in love with a goddess living in the branches of a huge Banyan tree. She agreed to marry him only on the condition that he did not bring anyone with him. And forbade him to show the way to the village. The Bali Agha believe that eruptions and other disasters are the cause of the spiritual pollution of people in Bali.
In the 2000s, after another volcanic activity, the Balinese decided to propitiate the gods. They remembered the catastrophic destruction in 1963-1964. For this, it was decided to hold a ceremony on the Batur volcano. It was attended by pilgrims from all over the island. The volcano was surrounded around by a multi-kilometer sarong (white matter) and a large number of offerings were left near the crater. After that, the activity decreased significantly and the mountain calmed down.
The volcano in Bali, like on many other islands of the archipelago, has always destroyed and created. Therefore, the islanders have always treated him with respect. They created an aura of divinity and majesty around him. It is very difficult to imagine Balinese culture and religion without Mount Agung and Batur. Modern development Geology and the study of processes in the earth's crust gives answers to many questions. However, for the Balinese, Bali's volcanoes are still sacred and inhabited by gods and spirits. This makes the culture of the island unique and distinctive.
Bookings of air tickets from Moscow to the island of Bali, where the airport is closed due to a volcanic eruption, have decreased tenfold today. Volcano Agung did not throw out such a column of ash for half a century. And now, according to various sources, it rises to a height of four to eight kilometers. Everything within a radius of eight kilometers is covered with a thin layer. Among those who cannot fly out of the island are five to six thousand of our compatriots.
The red-hot wall of smoke and ash over the island of Bali exceeds 4 kilometers. An orange glow at the base is a sign that lava has already poured out of the mouth of the Agung volcano. sacred mountain woke up on the weekend. Today, the level of anxiety has been raised to the maximum - the fourth level. The cooled streams of volcanic rocks mixed with water and mud - here they are called lahars - reached the foot of the mountain by morning, threatening the villages located nearby. About 100,000 people were ordered to leave the adjacent area within a radius of 12 kilometers.
There is a high probability that in the near future there will be an even more powerful eruption than the day before.
The only airport in Denpasar is a real collapse. Along with local residents, about 60,000 tourists are held hostage by the volcano, who cannot fly from resort island. Half a thousand flights have been canceled and until Agung calms down, no airline will dare to take the plane into the air. There are now about 6,000 Russian citizens in Bali. But our people are not so easily frightened by the local vagaries of the elements.
“We live 60 kilometers from the volcano. Yesterday they reported that some flights were canceled, today the airport was closed. Tonight we went to the foot of the volcano for 25 kilometers. Very beautiful, an eruption of smoke, ash. We talked with the locals, they say that this is not dangerous. Life goes on, schoolchildren go to school. We think that it will raise, raise and calm down," Sofya Selina believes.
"Ashes began to settle, we are 30 kilometers away. Our house is in ashes, we understand that we need to move away from the volcano. We have Small child He is 5 months old. We must go further. You are breathing normally at the moment. The most dangerous thing is a ten-kilometer zone, an explosion can occur there," says Aleksey Vimana.
Now the only way to leave Bali is by ferry. The Russian Embassy in Indonesia posts all the necessary information on social networks. Passengers are transported by ferry to neighboring islands. The airports are still open.
The most powerful eruption in the history of mankind is the eruption of the Indonesian stratovolcano Tambora. It is located next to the island of Bali. In 1815, more than 70 thousand people died from it, and because of the ash cloud that rose into the sky, then the so-called "volcanic winter" set in, which provoked crop failure and famine throughout the northern hemisphere.
Agung refers to volcanoes of the same type. His track record is not so impressive yet, but during the eruption in 1963-64, few seemed to anyone. Then about one and a half thousand people died, and even the inhabitants of Northern Europe observed volcanic twilight.