Eruption of Merapi volcano

There's vast coverage of the eruption of the Indonesian volcano.

It's the second of this kind of major natural 'activity' that took place this year.
This first was the eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland.
Little is Eyjafjallajökull known to this part of the world. But the 'powerful' volcano ash spread had caught the attention of all. More, being the impact, rather than the interest of the eruption; at least, I think. It's the serious economic impact - where flights were cancelled and the disruptions to the activities in the countries 'nearby', in particular Europe, thanks to the 'support' from the powerful seasonal winds.

Nearer to home, now is a volcano which already sounded the alarm many months ago - since it started to become active. However, the real impact on came these couple of weeks when it finally erupted! Yes... the ash, the gas, the lava... and the scale of destruction that it brought about.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Merapi
  
  What's alarming to me... not sure if it was also reported in the Eyjafjallajökull eruption, where some villagers refused to leave their homes! Not that because they could not leave behind the cattle, but it's where they wanted to remain true to their beliefs, and leave their lives to the hands of nature!
  
  Well, is this something that only happen to Asians... and of course, not all Asians, but the ones who clinged on to their old beliefs, practices and rituals? I wonder.
  
  As reported at http://en.vivanews.com/news/read/185003-most-merapi-people-refuse-to-take-refuge
  
• "However, the evacuation process is delayed as many inhabitants refuse to leave their homes"
• "The evacuated locals include the elders, pregnant women and babies. Most men and youths refuse to take refuge."

Also reported in http://news.softpedia.com/news/Red-hot-Lava-Begins-to-Flow-from-Merapi-volcano-in-Indonesia-23859.shtml

• "The evacuation is now compulsory but many residents are still reluctant to leave. Traditional beliefs hold that Merapi - which means Mountain of Fire - will only erupt after certain omens, some of which appear in dreams, leaving many more superstitious residents reluctant to leave without them becoming apparent. Others are worried about their property, cattle and crops being taken if they depart."
  

Spiritual caretaker who villagers relied on to 'appease' Indonesian volcano dies in eruption: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5g0XMcESuan-BaYitIZyJsRQonG1g?docId=4960528

• "As Merapi began spewing 1,800-degree Fahrenheit (1,000 Celsius) gases and thousands of panicked people streamed down the mountain's slopes, Maridjan refused to budge from his home deep in the evacuation zone, just four miles from the crater.
  His rigid body was found Wednesday, prostrate in the Islamic prayer position and caked in heavy white soot. Nearby was an Indonesian Red Cross volunteer who had been trying to persuade him to leave."

Well, amongst the many reports, what strucked me was the last one - the greatest saddness came when one's stubborn belief caused the life of not just himself, but others!

Do no harm to self. Do no harm to others!