Residents of East Java province gathered Friday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Lusi mud volcano eruption [2].
The gathering serves as a reminder of the long-term devastation caused by the disaster, which fundamentally altered the landscape and displaced thousands of people [4].
On May 31, residents, including local resident Harwati, met at the edge of the mud lake in Sidoarjo to scatter flowers and pray [1]. About 12 residents attended the ceremony to honor those who died in the event [3]. The original eruption began on May 29, 2006 [1].
The disaster inundated entire villages and killed at least 14 people [1]. The resulting mud lake continues to occupy the land where communities once stood.
"We are here to remember those we lost and to pray for the future of our community," Harwati said [1].
Muhammad Rizal, the Mayor of Sidoarjo, said that the city continues to rebuild but the tragedy is not forgotten [3]. He said the community remains committed to remembering the lives taken by the event [3].
Scientists continue to study the site due to its unusual duration. Dr. Budi Santoso, a volcanologist at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, said the Lusi eruption remains one of the longest-lasting mud volcano events in recorded history [2]. He said that the impacts of the eruption are still felt today [2].
The event has left a permanent scar on the region — both physically and economically — as the mud continues to flow and the displaced residents seek stability.
“"We are here to remember those we lost and to pray for the future of our community."”
The 20-year milestone of the Lusi eruption highlights the rare geological nature of mud volcanoes, which can persist for decades unlike typical volcanic eruptions. The continued gathering of residents and the ongoing displacement of thousands underscore the permanent socio-economic disruption caused by the event and the difficulty of land reclamation in the affected East Java region.
