• The interior of a mosque destroyed by the 2006 mudflow, blamed on the Indonesian oil and gas company Lapindo Brantas, which refutes the claim. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
    The interior of a mosque destroyed by the 2006 mudflow, blamed on the Indonesian oil and gas company Lapindo Brantas, which refutes the claim. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
  • Survivor statues are displayed at mudflow areas. Most residents of villages that were damaged by the Sidoarjo mud eruption have received compensation from the energy fim Lapindo Brantas. According to reports, 20 ives were lost and nearly 40,000 people displaced. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
    Survivor statues are displayed at mudflow areas. Most residents of villages that were damaged by the Sidoarjo mud eruption have received compensation from the energy fim Lapindo Brantas. According to reports, 20 ives were lost and nearly 40,000 people displaced. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
  • Suwadi (75), stands behind his house that was hit by the by mudflow, suspected to have been triggered by the drilling activities of Lapindo Brantas, although it blames a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck a neighbouring area two days befroe. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
    Suwadi (75), stands behind his house that was hit by the by mudflow, suspected to have been triggered by the drilling activities of Lapindo Brantas, although it blames a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck a neighbouring area two days befroe. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
  • What remains of a factory destroyed by the mudflow. Ten years on, mud geysers still continue to spurt mud out and high levels of heavy metals have been detected in nearby rivers. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
    What remains of a factory destroyed by the mudflow. Ten years on, mud geysers still continue to spurt mud out and high levels of heavy metals have been detected in nearby rivers. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
  • Steam comes out of an area of the mudflow. Damages caused by the eruption topped US$2.7 billion. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
    Steam comes out of an area of the mudflow. Damages caused by the eruption topped US$2.7 billion. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
  • Visitors ride motorcycles over the mudflow during the tenth anniversary of the eruption. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
    Visitors ride motorcycles over the mudflow during the tenth anniversary of the eruption. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
  • Visitors watch steam coming out of the mudflow that the energy firm Lapindo Brantas blames on a 6.3 magnitude earthquake which struck the neighbouring city of Yogyakarta, 150 miles west of a company drill site in Sidoarjo, two days before the eruption in 2006. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
    Visitors watch steam coming out of the mudflow that the energy firm Lapindo Brantas blames on a 6.3 magnitude earthquake which struck the neighbouring city of Yogyakarta, 150 miles west of a company drill site in Sidoarjo, two days before the eruption in 2006. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
  • A woman works on the demolition site of a house in Sidoarjo. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
    A woman works on the demolition site of a house in Sidoarjo. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
  • Plants killed by the mudflow in Sidoarjo. Most residents received compensation, after almost 10 years, from the Indonesian oil and gas company Lapindo Brantas, although more than 100 families have still yet to be paid. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
    Plants killed by the mudflow in Sidoarjo. Most residents received compensation, after almost 10 years, from the Indonesian oil and gas company Lapindo Brantas, although more than 100 families have still yet to be paid. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
  • A man sets up an art installation by artist Dadang Christanto, with title 'Gombal' or 'Rags' at the mudflow during the tenth anniversary of the eruption Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
    A man sets up an art installation by artist Dadang Christanto, with title 'Gombal' or 'Rags' at the mudflow during the tenth anniversary of the eruption Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
  • Fitriani, and her daughter Azizah, play in front of their house which was partially destroyed by the mudflow when it hit Merisen Village. Ten years on, more than 100 families have yet to receive compensation. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
    Fitriani, and her daughter Azizah, play in front of their house which was partially destroyed by the mudflow when it hit Merisen Village. Ten years on, more than 100 families have yet to receive compensation. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
  • An artist, Novi, paints at the mudflow site during the anniversary of the eruption. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
    An artist, Novi, paints at the mudflow site during the anniversary of the eruption. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
  • A mosque destroyed by the mudflow. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
    A mosque destroyed by the mudflow. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
  • A view of an abandoned house destroyed by the mudflow in Sidoarjo. The mudflow eruption is suspected to have been triggered by the drilling activities of the oil and gas company, Lapindo Brantas, although it refutes the claims, instead blaming a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck a neighboring city two days before. According to reports, 20 lives were lost and nearly 40,000 people displaced, with damages topping $2.7 billion. Even now, mud geysers continue to spurt daily and high levels of heavy metals have been detected in nearby rivers. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images
    A view of an abandoned house destroyed by the mudflow in Sidoarjo. The mudflow eruption is suspected to have been triggered by the drilling activities of the oil and gas company, Lapindo Brantas, although it refutes the claims, instead blaming a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck a neighboring city two days before. According to reports, 20 lives were lost and nearly 40,000 people displaced, with damages topping $2.7 billion. Even now, mud geysers continue to spurt daily and high levels of heavy metals have been detected in nearby rivers. Ulet Ifansasti / Getty Images

Business

Victims of mud eruption win oil company damages – in pictures

Liz Claus

May 31, 2016

  • English
  • Arabic

In Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia, most residents of villages damaged by the 2006 Sidoarjo mudflow eruption have finally received compensation from the Indonesian oil and gas company Lapindo Brantas. However, more than 100 families are still waiting for the promised cash. The mud eruption is suspected to have been triggered by the drilling activities of the company, although it refutes that, instead blaming an earthquake two days before for causing US$2.7 billion of damage.

IndonesiaTechnologyEnergySouth-East Asia