We’re relieved that the eruption of Mount Sinabung in Indonesia doesn’t rank with other recent disasters like the flooding in Pakistan. It’s not even going to cause disruption on the level of this year’s volcanic eruption in Iceland. Though it will disrupt flights in the region.
The volcano erupted on Sunday and again on Monday. Authorities can’t say when the eruptions will stop, but Mount Sinabung is mainly belching smoke and ash. The smoke is dangerous, disaster officials say, but not lethal. They’re monitoring the volcano, but it seems to be calming down.
Still, it’s a pretty freakish incident, considering the last time we heard anything from this volcano it was the year 1600. That was 400 years ago! Volcanic eruptions are almost a common occurrence in Indonesia, but this is the last volcano anyone expected to see become active.
I say two of anything is a pattern, and two unexpected volcanic eruptions in one year means we’re on an unwelcome roll. Add in the disastrous flooding in Pakistan and the extremely rare fire tornadoes in Brazil, and Hawaii last week, and I’d say Mother Nature is upset about something. It’s possible that global warming can account for some of the extreme weather, but the volcanic eruptions? Was it something we said?
It’s important to make clear that, in the case of the eruption in Indonesia, “not that much of a disaster” still means around 29,000 Indonesians have been evacuated from their villages and thousands are being treated for smoke inhalation. But most residents are now returning to their homes. And food and face masks were distributed to evacuees. The face masks are to prevent more smoke and ash inhalation.
Prevent smoke inhalation in style. Photo: samiraboon.com
To lighten the mood, maybe they can get a few of those stylish surgical masks popular in Japan. Or some of the colorful ones that popped up around the world during the swine flu outbreak. Call me frivolous, but if it was me, I’d try my best to rock one of these distinctive numbers by Yoriko Yoshida. Or these masks by Irina Blok. Or this one from Mexico. Come on, it would cheer the kids up until this all, er, blows over.
Photo Credit: Getty