Employing ancient oral traditions in Central Java to warn of volcano–earthquake interaction

Abstract

Merapi volcano in Central Java, Indonesia, is one of the most hazardous volcanoes in Southeast Asia, yet humans have inhabited the area around Merapi since ancient times. Responses to official hazard warnings are not always taken up by all community members, and some groups actively resist  engaging in protection measures initiated by official authorities. A relatively new strategy to raise hazard awareness and to improve communication with interest groups involves cultural communication tools, such as the use of local wisdom and ancient oral traditions. The local legends around Merapi volcano describe the interaction of the spirit kings that reside within Merapi volcano and the Queen of the South Sea, who resides in the Indian Ocean near Parangtritis, some 50 km SSE of the volcano. The royal palace in Yogyakarta is located half-way between Merapi volcano and Parangtritis beach and is believed to balance these opposing forces. In 2006 and 2010, Merapi erupted explosively and on both occasions, earthquakes shook the region and caused the eruptions to grow more intense. Notably, the 2006 earthquakes clustered along the Opak River fault system to the south of the volcano that reaches the sea at Parangtritis beach, the fabled residence of the Queen of the South Sea. We argue that local legends developed to rationalise the dynamic interaction between the volcano and the frequent regional earthquakes through the rich oral traditions and ceremonies in the districts around Merapi. These legends can thus be thought of as comprising an ancient hazard catalogue with respect to local eruptive behaviour and seismic phenomena. This realisation is now finding increasing use in communicating volcanic hazard knowledge to diverse local resident and interest groups, including local primary schools, showing considerable (and measurable) effects on hazard awareness and hazard preparedness (1). The use of cultural communication tools can thus help to further reduce casualties in times of future volcanic crisis.