An Australian woman with family on Mount Agung in Bali has revealed the villagers there are just waiting to be wiped out when the volcano finally explodes.
Wendy Westerveld from Victoria has loved ones on the side of the mountain, in the ‘red zone’, which is threatening to explode more every day.
She told Daily Mail Australia the last time the mountain erupted in 1963 the villagers ‘died where they stood, staring up at the mountain’.
Wendy Westerveld, pictured centre in white shirt, with her sister, daughter and Balinese family
Mrs Westerveld says the people who live on the mountain, or in the danger zone, are terrified of the volcano having a major eruption
Her extended family, pictured, are farmers in the danger zone of Mount Agung
A recent celebration – taken before the mountain started erupting
‘They are terrified, once it happens they will lose their homes and their animals, their whole livelihood,’ she said.
‘Their belief in God is that he will decide their fate but their fear is real. They truly are not sitting there like I would be, they pray constantly but go about daily life as normal.’
Mrs Westerveld has 28 members of her ‘extended family’ at Desa Tianyar which is 12 kilometres of the top of the mountain.
They have not been evacuated officially – even though their whole village was destroyed last time the mountain exploded. ‘
Mrs Westerveld has 28 members of her ‘extended family’ at Desa Tianyar which is 12 kilometres of the top of the mountain
This woman was evacuated early – because she is too old to move quickly
‘Once it reaches its maximum height it comes crashing back to earth. ‘It is ash, rocks, toxins and it is about 1000 degrees Celsius and it kills everything in its way’
‘When a mountain erupts what will generally happens – when it does the big eruption will got up into the air.
‘Once it reaches its maximum height it comes crashing back to earth. ‘It is ash, rocks, toxins and it is about 1000 degrees Celsius and it kills everything in its way.’
The poor working families who call the mountain home know what will happen when their mountain explodes, but still want to care for their animals.
The poor working families who call the mountain home know what will happen when their mountain explodes, but still want to care for their animals
This village was destroyed last time the volcano erupted in 1963 – it was rebuilt by survivors years later once the earth was no longer toxic
Mrs Westerveld says the families who live on the mountain are completely connected to it – and understand the dangers
‘They go up every day to care for their livestock.
‘They are just sending the minimum amount of people – but there is no way they would be able to get out in time if there was a major explosive eruption.’
Mrs Westerveld says the families who live on the mountain are completely connected to it – and understand the dangers.
The aftermath of the eruption in 1963 – the powerful blast wiped out entire villages in some cases
This elderly man has seen the volcano erupt before – but respects the mountain
‘They don’t hate the mountain, they respect it, it is the most importan thing in their lives.
‘They are very fatalistic about the whole thing and they believe in reincarnation – but that doesn’t mean they aren’t scared as well.’
Once the mountain does have a major eruption the families will be displaced, with know government help, and no way to make a living.
Once the mountain does have a major eruption the families will be displaced, with know government help, and no way to make a living
They are very fatalistic about the whole thing and they believe in reincarnation – but that doesn’t mean they aren’t scared as well’
Mrs Westerveld is very concerned about all the villagers who will be impacted by the natural event and would like people to help in any way they can.
She recommends Solemen, an organisation which aids the communities in Bali year-round.
‘They are stretched so thin but everything goes where it should,’ she said.
She says their livestock and farms will be completely wiped out along with anyone left in the villages
A picture of the volcano erupting as the warning increased to level four