Belgian Tourist Survives 35-Hour Ordeal at Sea After Volcanic Eruption in Indonesia

antwerp - Manou Cassiers, a 25-year-old tourist from Antwerp, Belgium, had a harrowing experience at sea for 35 hours following a volcanic eruption in Indonesia. She describes the ordeal as a nightmare, with cockroaches everywhere.

Two weeks after celebrating her 25th birthday, Manou Cassiers embarked on a solo trip to Indonesia, hoping for a dream vacation. However, her journey turned into a nightmare due to a volcanic eruption. She spent 35 hours drifting at sea, desperate to make it back home safely. 'It was hell. Cockroaches were crawling everywhere,' she recalls.

After a grueling 35-hour boat journey from the Indonesian island of Flores and a 19-hour flight, Manou finally landed back in Belgium on Thursday morning. The ongoing eruptions of the Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano caused her a great deal of distress.

The volcano, located in the East Nusa Tenggara province, about 500 kilometers from the Indonesian island of Bali, erupted for the first time last Saturday. Nine people lost their lives, and over 15,000 individuals were evacuated.

Manou, along with other stranded tourists, faced an uncertain journey back home on Monday evening. 'All flights were canceled, and with no other options offered, all stranded tourists resorted to boarding a 35-hour ferry to Bali. Initially, we thought it would all work out. I still believed we would leave tomorrow or the day after,' Manou explains. 'But soon, the severity of the situation became clear. I didn't want to risk waiting any longer and missing my flight.'

She acted swiftly thereafter, seeking assistance from the embassy, which proved unfruitful. 'Make a plan,' they told us. The locals advised us to wear face masks and stay indoors due to the unhealthy, ash-filled air. Communication was extremely limited, leaving us to fend for ourselves.'

Initially hesitant to board the ferry, Manou eventually agreed to join because the people she had befriended opted to do so. 'I didn't want to be completely alone,' she explains.

The journey was far from smooth. 'Those people deceived us,' she reveals. 'The boat was initially fully booked, but then miraculously, tickets became available. The first passengers paid around 20 euros while they made us pay 80 euros, much higher than the legal price. They took advantage of the chaos and our desperation. A Swiss woman even paid 100 euros.'

Chaos and panic reigned aboard the ferry. 'People were pushing each other, fearing they wouldn't find a spot,' recalls Manou. 'You were on your own, in the middle of nowhere. If Ladina and Thijs, the people I met there, hadn't been with me, I don't know how I would have coped. I cried several times because I couldn't predict the outcome.'

The conditions on the ferry were deplorable. 'Hygiene was lacking. There were cockroaches everywhere,' she describes. 'I've already showered ten times. Since all beds were taken, we had to sit on yoga mats on the floor. We refused to accept that. The boat was filthy. About 300 people slept on the ground.'

The sanitary facilities were equally appalling. 'Going to the restroom was a nightmare. You could see cockroaches crawling under your shoes,' Manou shares. 'I resisted at first, but eventually, you have to give in.'

Spending 35 hours on a turbulent sea in unsanitary conditions and high temperatures was challenging. Amidst the ordeal, a comforting meal could have been a relief. However, Manou and the other tourists avoided the rice and fish due to concerns about hygiene. 'You certainly don't want to get sick. We survived on chips and dry biscuits,' she notes.

Manou experienced anxious moments as she felt the boat was ill-prepared for any accidents. 'The boat was overcrowded. There supposedly weren't enough life jackets on board in case something went wrong,' she states. To distract herself, she closed her eyes, like many others who tried to pass the time by sleeping. 'In addition to losing a lot of money, I lost three days. There were still many plans ahead, but the eruption disrupted everything,' she sighs.

Upon disembarking, Manou headed to the airport. However, the journey wasn't without challenges. 'My luggage was still in a hostel nearby. I first picked it up with a taxi. The drivers took advantage of the emergency to squeeze money out of us,' she remarks. 'At the hostel, I begged for a shower. I felt incredibly dirty.'

At the airport, she received the disheartening news of flight cancellations. 'There was much confusion about which flights were operating, so it was a nerve-wracking wait to see if I would make it home. Fortunately, things progressed relatively quickly in the end.'

After 19 hours, the young woman finally arrived home, where she reunited with her worried parents. The traumatic experience left a lasting impact on Manou, who had some travel experience having previously taken a solo trip to Mexico. 'After this intense experience, I feel like: never again,' she asserts.