I refer to media reports of Sumatra’s volcano eruption which even threatens international aviation.

The Sumatran volcano Sinabung has erupted for the first time in 400 years and is spewing ash and smoke into the air. There are 37 volcanoes with thermal activity in Sumatra and any one or several of them can erupt at anytime since they are located close a volatile subduction zone.

We in Malaysia, and perhaps Singapore together with Thailand, should be very concerned about the events unfolding in Sumatra.

In the nineties, many parts of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore were affected by haze, caused by hundreds of forest fires burning in Sumatra. Many people had to wear face masks to protect themselves against the smoke and there was an increase in cases of respiratory illnesses.

If any of the volcanoes in Sumatra erupted and spewed a similar volume of ash as Mount Pinatubo did in the Philippines, and if the winds blew in an easterly direction, it will have a catastrophic effect on Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. The west coast of Peninsular Malaysia being the nerve centre of Malaysia will be particularly hard hit.

In the worst case scenario the following can occur:-

1. The Straits of Malacca will be covered in ash and closed to all shipping;

2. All seaports, airports and highways will become unusable;

3. Food crops such as rice, fruits and vegetables will be destroyed;

4. The animal husbandry industry will be destroyed;

5. Industry including plantations will come to a standstill;

6. Schools and offices will be closed;

7. Water supply will become contaminated; and

8. Forests destroyed because ash strips leaves from trees causing erosion, silting of major rivers and massive flooding.

The governments of countries most likely to be affected by a potential future massive eruption, should jointly or individually begin now to prepare for such an eventually so they are not taken by surprise. A case in point is the massive flooding in Pakistan where the government was unprepared.