Indonesians mark 20 years since mud volcano eruption swallowed up entire communities in East Java

Residents in Indonesia’s East Java province gathered on Friday to mark two decades since the Lusi mud volcano erupted, submerging entire communities and killing at least 14 people. The disaster, which began on May 29, 2006, in the Porong subdistrict of Sidoarjo, left a vast and still-active mud lake in its wake, forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes, land and livelihoods. Many survivors continue to grapple with lingering consequences, including environmental damage, health concerns and the loss of ancestral graves. The catastrophe remains one of the country’s most enduring environmental disasters, with no signs of abating despite years of mitigation efforts.

Scientific research has largely attributed the eruption to commercial gas drilling by local exploration company PT Lapindo Brantas, a conclusion that contradicted initial claims by Indonesian officials who described it as a natural disaster. The disaster claimed its first victim in August 2006 when a worker operating an excavator fell from a levee, while 13 others died in November the same year when an underground gas pipeline beneath a containment dam exploded. The mudflow, which now covers over 1,100 hectares across 19 villages, has swallowed homes, factories and farmland, leaving a scarred landscape where hot mud continues to bubble to the surface. White plumes of smoke still rise from the vent, a stark reminder that the geological disturbance persists two decades later.

The human toll has been profound. Sastro, a 55-year-old resident, lost his house and job as a factory worker when the facility where he worked was engulfed by mud. Today, he earns a living as a motorcycle taxi driver, transporting visitors to the site, which has become an unsettling tourist attraction. “As far as I can tell, things have been really tough ever since the Lapindo incident,” he said, reflecting the enduring hardship faced by survivors. The disaster displaced tens of thousands, stripping them of their homes, land, jobs and cultural heritage. Many now live in resettlement areas, their lives forever altered by the relentless flow of mud.

The Indonesian government initially ordered PT Lapindo Brantas to pay $420 million in compensation, though only a fraction was delivered. While emergency aid was later provided by authorities, critics argue the response fell short of addressing long-term needs. Despite the construction of holding dams and other containment measures, none have succeeded in halting the mudflow, which continues to expand. The disaster serves as a cautionary tale about industrial oversight and the lasting consequences of environmental negligence, leaving future generations to contend with its unresolved legacy.