Harwati clasped her hands and offered a prayer on the edge of a sludge lake on the Indonesian island of Java, as dozens of residents gathered to mark two decades since mud volcano eruptions began displacing thousands. The event, known as the Lusi mud volcano, has been erupting since May 2006, burying villages and farmland under thick mud.
The disaster has displaced over 40,000 people and inundated more than 600 hectares of land, destroying homes, schools, and businesses. The mud continues to flow at a rate of about 100,000 cubic meters per day, despite efforts to stem it. The cause remains disputed, with some linking it to a gas exploration well and others pointing to a distant earthquake.
The ongoing displacement has strained local resources and infrastructure. Many residents live in temporary shelters or have left the area permanently. Economic activities, including farming and fishing, have been severely disrupted, with the mud rendering large swaths of land unusable for agriculture.
The Indonesian government has provided compensation and relocation assistance, but affected communities say the support has been inadequate. Long-term solutions, including permanent resettlement and environmental remediation, remain elusive. The mud volcano's continued activity suggests the disaster will persist for years to come.
Experts note that similar geological events have lasted decades, highlighting the need for sustained international attention and aid.