Ash Doesn't Stop Paul from Reporting Events Amid Eruptions

KRBN, East Flores: On the night of November 3, 2024, it was quiet in Hokeng Jaya village, East Flores regency, East Nusa Tenggara. The electricity was out, only the sound of the wind shaking the trees was heard.

Paul Kabelen, a local journalist, sat in the corner of his house staring at the screen of his cell phone that was almost out of battery, with only 3 percent left. A bad feeling began to creep into his mind.

Paul, accustomed to the pulse of journalistic dynamics, immediately shared the editor's contacts with his father and girlfriend. It was a simple precaution, considering his cell phone was almost dead. Not long after, he lay down to rest. But just as he closed his eyes, the earth shook violently. Paul woke up, and the sound of hysterical screaming woke up the whole house.

Paul immediately got up and left the house. In the darkness, he saw people scattering, trying to save themselves. Within minutes, the sky turned dark. A sudden rain of rocks and sand poured down.

Paul came back into the house, hugging his terrified mother. “Mama don't panic too much, everything will be fine,” he whispered, trying to calm her down. Although it only lasted three minutes, the rain of rocks and sand was more than traumatizing. The heavy rain that followed afterwards gave him some sense of security, although the threat was not yet entirely over.

Amidst the chaos, Paul's journalistic instincts kicked in. With his father's battered cell phone, he began typing up an initial report. “The phone was broken, so it took 45 minutes to write and send the news to the editor,” he recalled. Despite the limitations, he managed to report on the situation in his village.

Paul and his family decided to stay at home in the early hours of November 4. They were afraid that the rain of rocks and sand would return while they were on their way to find an evacuation site. As dawn broke, Paul knew his duty awaited him.

Paul left his devastated family behind, rushing to Klatanlo, one of the worst-affected areas. Upon his arrival, a heartbreaking sight greeted him. Ruined houses and ashes covered the area. Among the debris, he found a bitter truth, a family who turned out to be his relatives, were found dead, buried in the vomit of Mt. Lewotobi Laki-laki.

“Six people, all of them were my brother's family,” he said. His voice trembled as he shared his story with RRI Ende over the weekend, in Lewolaga.

However, that grief must be put aside for a moment. As a journalist, Paul knew his duty was to report the truth, even though his heart was broken. He immediately wrote a report for breaking news, telling the world the sad story of his own family.

Until now, Paul Kabelen is still on the move, fleeing from one place to another. He is currently temporarily staying at a friend's house in Lewolaga. Even so, his enthusiasm never wanes. Every day he covers the impact of the eruptions, making sure every story and fact reaches the outside world.

Paul is a portrait of the resilience of a journalist who not only reports disasters but also lives them. Amidst the ash and rocks, he stood his ground, carrying out his duty as a voice, even if it meant carrying a wound in his chest. ***