Villagers Brave Ash and Steam: Yogyakarta, Central Java, Indonesia

On the weekend the activity on Gunung Merapi slowed much to the delight of the residents living on its slopes. Heat clouds travelled about 1.5 kilometres down its south-eastern slope and the volcano also spewed 49 trails of molten rock, which travelled as far as three kilometres.

However, although Gunung Merapi was still dangerous and spewing hot clouds of ash and steam, villagers were ignoring warnings and returning home to check on their houses and crops. Even the death of two men in an emergency bunker in the Kaliadem tourist area did not deter the villagers. Orders to evacuate residents living in the eight-kilometre danger zone on the volcano’s slopes remained in place but officials were helpless in facing the persistent residents saying they could not force the villagers to stay.

According to reports from one affected village, Kepuharjo, some 490 families have to rely on reserve supplies that remained in containers they used to store water. But most of the containers which usually contain enough for two days were drying out.

In reality, these villagers are only tending to their livestock and what's left of their crops. They have been doing this for generations and even though the force of nature is against them, they will continue doing so. Its their livelihood and its their way of life.