Tommy Ardiansyah

CURAH KOBOKAN (Indonesia) – What remains of houses on the main street of CURAH KOBOKAN are now covered with a thick layer hardened volcanic ash.

Curah Kolbokan was one of the hardest-hit regions when Mount Semeru’s eruption on Saturday at 3,676 metres (12,060ft) caused an enormous cloud of ash and hazardous pyroclastic flows to the valley below.

On Tuesday, there were at least 34 deaths and 22 missing.

    Since day one of the disaster, volunteer Dodik Suryadiawan, 36, has driven on the bumpy roads in his personal four-wheel drive, helping to retrieve the remains of those who perished.

One of the victims that he discovered was a mother who had died while cuddling her baby.

He said, “I am very sorry. Especially when I try and imagine hot ash falling at this time.”

Dodik joined other volunteers and used heavy equipment to dig through the land, where once lived a sand mining company and houses.

    As the active volcano spews hot air behind him, Dodik, who has no formal training, is constantly reminded of how dangerous his work is.

    Indonesia’s volcanology agency on Monday said there was potential for further flows of hot gas, ash and rock.

    Dodik started volunteering as part of a four-wheel drive hobby group helping in a search and rescue operation last December when floods hit Lumajang Regency, where Curah Kobokan is located.

    “We were inspired to express our loyalty (to the community) through our hobby,” he said.

    On Tuesday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited the disaster zone and said at least 2,000 homes would need to be relocated to safer areas.

Dodik says that it is important to help people find loved ones.

He said, “We need to be prepared to leap into action.”