TANAH DATAR, WEST SUMATERA — “I don’t want to go there anymore, son. I don’t want to see the house anymore, it’s destroyed, my heart is heavy. It’s not good anymore, Amak,” said Kartini (56) softly, while recalling the scene of the Galodo disaster that traumatized her.
For more than 15 years, Kartini, her husband and five children have lived in the blue and yellow wooden house. The house that witnessed her children grow up until now she has grandchildren.
Unfortunately, the memories that she and her family had carved over a dozen years in that house were destroyed by the flash flood of cold lava – known as Galodo by the Minangkabau people – on Saturday (11/5/2024).
On a gray Sunday night (11/5/2024), the rain did not stop. Indeed, in the previous days, the rain continued to fall with high intensity in the Tanah Datar area. No one expected that Galodo would come that night. On Saturday (11/5/2024), the Dompet Dhuafa Team visited Kartini’s residence, who is currently staying at her eldest daughter’s house. When met, Kartini began to tell how the disaster took away her property, leaving memories in it.
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When Galado hit, Kartini and her family had finished eating and praying, then enjoyed time together in front of the television before closing their eyes. Suddenly, a rumble stirred the night, forcing Kartini to look outside the house.
“Everyone was asleep, and then we heard an uproar, so we looked outside. It turned out to be a big water, so I couldn’t stand to go down from the house, Amak went straight upstairs. The house was no longer suitable,” Kartini said.
In an instant, Kartini’s house could not last long, no longer able to protect, no longer suitable to live in.
“There was shaking and rumbling, Amak said nothing, but her body was shivering, she couldn’t stand it anymore. I was carried by my child and Amak was carried by my child, then I arrived at the place where Amak’s stomach was nauseous. I didn’t sleep again until morning. I didn’t feel good, I didn’t feel good in my stomach, I was scared. I couldn’t look anymore,” Kartini explained.
“I ran upstairs to the cowshed. The first time I saved myself there. Because the water got bigger, I ran upstairs again, there was a cow shed, I just saved myself, I stayed in the cow shed,” Kartini added.
Read also: Dompet Dhuafa Responds to Flash Flood and Lava Disaster in West Sumatera
Then, there were about five families gathered there. Kartini stayed awake until the morning without sleeping a wink.
“I didn’t feel good. I was scared, my heart was pounding, thinking about where to live again, how to live, where to live, it was a thought. The condition of the house is like that, the kitchen is all gone, the props (cooking utensils) in the kitchen are gone. There was nothing to cook with, only a few clothes that survived,” said Kartini, while recalling the events of Galodo that night.
In a state of panic and helplessness, Kartini witnessed with her own eyes how people around her were swept away by the swift current, trying hard to save themselves. This heartbreaking scene left a deep mark on Kartini’s heart, reminding her how fragile life is in the face of the unstoppable forces of nature.
“Because I was afraid to see that the water was already high, I didn’t want to go to the edge of the page. The water was high, son. If you look around, it’s about three meters, like in the sea. So Amak couldn’t bear to look at it anymore, there were rocks too, it’s called a drifting person can’t bear to look at it anymore, just moved up,” Kartini said with lingering feelings.
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After the flood began to recede, at 10:00 am, Kartini and her family crossed the Jambu River. The river, which was originally 10 meters from her house with a width of about 4-5 meters, has now turned into a sea of large rocks, and is filled with mud (volcanic material from Mount Marapi). Previously, there were three bridges to the neighboring village, but they have all disappeared.
“Crossing the river is difficult. Right now, the children’s beds are waiting there, staying at the children’s house, everything is here,” she continued.
Not only that, her husband who works as a farmer is also affected. With the condition of the rice fields that were about to be harvested, now only a pile of mud with a pungent sulfur smell. She has also lost one of her family members who is a cousin.
“The brother in the house above died, the parents who are missing are still cousins. That’s why the house is close by. Maybe they were asleep at the time,” he said.
Read also: Mount Marapi Erupts, Dompet Dhuafa Swiftly Responds to Affected Areas
Every time it rains, the trauma comes back to haunt Kartini, unstoppable by time. The rain that was once considered a blessing is now a trigger for deep fear. Every drop of water that falls reminds her of a tragic event that took away her comfort and sense of security.
It triggers horrifying images of massive floods that wash away everything we have. A sense of panic and helplessness returned, sending hearts racing and minds back to that catastrophic night. The trauma continues to loom, making every rain a reminder of the fragility and uncertainty of life.
“I’m still traumatized, still scared when it rains. (Because) people say there will be aftershocks, people say that if you don’t think about it, it enters your mind too. So there is still a sense of trauma,” Kartini said.
The Galodo that hit West Sumatra left Kartini confused and unsure of what to do. She wanted to have a decent home, but didn’t know where to start. The desire to rebuild a safe and comfortable place to live was hindered by the lack of land and funds. Everything seemed uncertain, and even if sustenance arrived, Kartini still did not know where she could rebuild her home.
As Eid al-Adha approaches, despite the uncertainty, she only hopes that this kind of Galodo disaster will only happen once in her life.
“If I may ask, this is the only time it happens. It’s already happened before, don’t let it happen again. I don’t know about Eid al-Adha, I don’t have anything to prepare,” Kartini concluded emotionally. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photo: Anndini Dwi Putri
Editors: Dhika Prabowo, Ronna