Indonesian clowns bring some cheer to children displaced by eruption

A combination photo shows members of clowns' association named Aku Badut Indonesia or 'I Indonesia Clown': Eko Wardoyo, 48, Didik Giri Santoso, 52, Jari Santoso, 52, Sumantri, 42, pose for a picture outside a temporary tent after performing a show to bring cheers to children who were affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano, at a temporary shelter in Penanggal, Candipuro district, Lumajang, East Java province, Indonesia, December 9, 2021. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan


Clowns brought a few moments of cheer to displaced children in Indonesia on Thursday, putting on a special show after a volcanic eruption killed 43 people and forced thousands to flee villages that were later blanketed in ash

Evacuees clapped and laughed as red-nosed clowns dressed in neon wigs and multi-coloured costumes volunteered for a show of games and magic tricks in a tent in an evacuation camp in Lamajang on Indonesia's Java island.

Founder of a clowns' association named Aku Badut Indonesia or 'I Indonesia Clown' Dedy Rachmanto, 53, pose for pictures with other clowns Roni Margiono, Soly Fardol, Sumantri, Jari Santoso, Eko Wardoyo, and Didik Giri Santoso, after performing a show to cheer the children who were affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano, at a temporary shelter in Penanggal, Candipuro district, Lumajang, East Java province, Indonesia, December 9, 2021. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

The 3,676-metre (12,060 ft) Mount Semeru erupted on Saturday, sending a cloud of ash into the sky and dangerous flows of heated gas and volcanic matter into villages below.

"Our hope is that it can bring back children' happiness... there are many kids traumatised because of this eruption, and we hope that our presence here can give support to the kids," 53-year-old Dedy Delon, founder of the clown group, said.

Dedy and other members usually perform at birthday parties but spare some time for voluntary work. Their association is planning more shows for the survivors.

Dedy Rachmanto, 53, known as Dedy Delon who is the founder of a clowns' association called Aku Badut Indonesia or 'I Indonesia Clown', perform a show with other clowns to cheer the children who were affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano, inside a temporary tent in Penanggal, Candipuro district, Lumajang, East Java province, Indonesia, December 9, 2021. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

Ella Wijhatul, 9, got a present from the show and said she was looking forward to seeing more of the clowns.

  More than 100,000 homes were partially damaged or destroyed after the weekend eruption and 6,000 were evacuated, according to the disaster agency.

Semeru is one of more than 100 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which straddles the "Pacific Ring of Fire", an area of high seismic activity atop multiple tectonic plates.

Founder of a clowns' association named Aku Badut Indonesia or 'I Indonesia Clown', Dedy Rachmanto, 53, laughs with other clowns Sumantri, 42, and Soly Fardol, 52, after performing a show to bring cheers to children who were affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano, at a temporary shelter in Penanggal, Candipuro district, Lumajang, East Java province, Indonesia, December 9, 2021. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

(Reporting by Tommy Ardiansyah; Writing by Yuddy Cahya Budiman and Martin Petty; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

Dedy Rachmanto, 53, known as Dedy Delon who is the founder of a clowns' association named Aku Badut Indonesia or 'I Indonesia Clown', gives the books to children as a gift while performing a show to cheer them who were affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano, inside a temporary tent in Penanggal, Candipuro district, Lumajang, East Java province, Indonesia, December 9, 2021. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan