Yogyakarta Palace Claims Premonition of Mbah Maridjan’s Death

6:38 PM Diposkan oleh Master Kecebong


Yogyakarta. The family of Indonesian icon Mbah Maridjan and the Yogyakarta Palace have confirmed that the 83-year-old gatekeeper of Yogyakarta’s Gunung Merapi was killed when the volcano erupted on Tuesday.

“Bapak [Mbah Maridjan] has gone,” his son-in-law Radjiman told the Jakarta Globe. “The funeral plan is not yet fixed because we are still waiting for several family members to arrive in Yogyakarta.”

Gusti Prabukusumo, the brother of Yogyakarta king Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, contacted Sardjito Hospital on Wednesday morning to inform them about Maridjan’s distinguishing physical features.

“Gusti Prabukusumo said that Mbah Maridjan had bent thumbs,” Trisno said.

The gatekeeper was found dead in his house at Kinahrejo village. He was in a praying position.

The family have confirmed the body as belonging to Maridjan.

“But we also need valid medical data and will run a DNA test,” Trisno said.

Speaking on behalf of the Yogyakarta Palace, Gusti Prabukusumo said they had a premonition about Mbah Maridjan’s fate.

“We had known long before it happened that Mbah Maridjan would be taken by Merapi. Now that he's gone, we have to choose a new gatekeeper soon,” Prabukusumo said.

Born in 1927, Mbah Maridjan was the son of previous Merapi gatekeeper.

In 1970, he was chosen as one of Yogyakarta Palace's staff and was given a royal title of Mas Penewu Suroksohargo. In 1982, he replaced his father as the new gatekeeper. He was known for his dedication and loyalty to the king.

In 2006, he refused to leave his village even though Merapi already spewed lava and ash cloud out of confidence that the volcano would not erupt.

Mbah Maridjan was survived by his wife, Ponirah, 73, and five children.

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Merapi Erupts

1:44 AM Diposkan oleh Master Kecebong


The eruption of Mount Merapi in Central Java and Yogyakarta border on Tuesday was not much when compared with previous eruptions.

The eruption in 1930 killed at least 1370 people in 13 villages on the slopes of Merapi. But this is not the biggest eruption. Precisely the largest eruption occurred in 1006. At that time covered the whole of Java volcanic ash. Unfortunately not known how many victims of the eruption.

Based on the records of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the first eruption of Mount Merapi experienced in 1006. Average Merapi erupted in a short cycle of 2-5 years, and secondary cycles every 5-7 years.

The longest cycle ever recorded after a break for more than 30 years, ie during the initial formation of an active volcano. Entering the 16th century, the longest cycle Merapi is a 71 year gap from 1587 to 1658 eruption.

Volcanology noted, a large eruption of Merapi occurred in 1006, 1786, 1822, 1872, and 1930. Previous eruption occurred four years ago, precisely on June 8, 2006 at 09:03.

When the government to evacuate 17 thousand people on the slopes of Merapi. However, two people sheltering in a bunker in Area Tourism Kaliadem, Kaliurang, just roasting hot clouds. Bunker could not protect the victim from wedhus gembel the temperature is still 500-600 degrees Celsius.

Tuesday afternoon, October 26, Merapi erupted again. The first eruption of Mount Merapi occurred since at 17:02 pm, followed by hot clouds for 9 minutes. Then repeated until the last eruption at 18:21 that cause hot clouds for 33 minutes.

This hot cloud has devastated several villages on the slopes of Merapi. At least 30 people died on the scene, including caretaker Mbah Maridjan.

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