Indonesians thank volcano

[Owlscrying]

Jakarta - Gamkonora volcano on Halmahera island in Indonesia's North Maluku erupted in July, shooting rocks, ash and smoke into the air for days and prompting thousands to flee their homes.

"Almost all our coconut trees were previously ruined by the sexava pest. Now we are completely free of this pest, following Gamkonora blanketing the area with ash," a local farmer said.

Coconuts processed into copra are a main source of livelihood for residents in the area.

"When Gamkonora erupted... the ash it spewed made us all suffer, and many got coughs and the flu. But this very same ash has helped us overcome this sexava pest," said another farmer.

Indonesia sits on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, where continental plates meet, causing frequent volcanic and seismic activity. The archipelago nation has the world's highest number of active volcanoes.

Gamkonora, located about 2,700km north-east of Jakarta, has erupted 12 times since records have been kept. It last blew 20 years ago.

go

[Grandpa Greenman]

Are they going to sacrafice a virgin? I am glad they got some good out of a bad situation.

[Purplos]

Now that's positivie thinking for you.