Have you ever heard about Simeulue Island? It is a small island off the west coast of Aceh, located in the Indian Ocean. It is an administrative regency under Aceh Province.
Do you know that Simeulue Island was the area least affected by the massive 2004 tsunami, even though it was very close to the epicenter of the earthquake? How did that happen?
Simeulue: The Island That Survived the 2004 Earthquake
According to the Aceh Tsunami Museum, a powerful earthquake and tsunami hit Aceh in 1907. At that time, the epicenter was near Simeulue with an estimated magnitude of 7.6–8.4 SR. The disaster caused many casualties, especially in Simeulue, where more than 1,800 people died.
This tragedy left a deep trauma for the local people. From this experience, they learned how to save themselves when a disaster strikes. This dark event gave birth to the local wisdom known as "Smong". In the local language, the word means "sea waves".
Smong has been passed down orally from generation to generation. Stories about the 1907 disaster were packaged into traditional arts, such as Nanga-nanga, Sikambang, and Nandong. Fragments of Smong lyrics are even commonly found in lullabies for children. One of the lyrics says:
"If the earthquake is strong, followed by the sea receding, immediately find a place on high ground to stay safe."
This message has been planted in the minds of Simeulue people since they were little. They turned their trauma into knowledge and preparedness wrapped in culture.
This lesson from 1907 saved Simeulue in 2004. While other areas in Aceh suffered greatly, Simeulue had very few fatalities. When the sea receded, people immediately ran to the hills. Out of the 250,000 people who died or went missing in Aceh, the number of victims in Simeulue was reported to be fewer than 10 people.
The Other Side of Simeulue
Simeulue also has a long history connected to the Aceh Darussalam Sultanate. Islam was brought to the island by a scholar named Khailullah, based on the recommendation of Sultan Ali Mughayat Syah.
The Sultan wanted Khailullah to spread Islam because the island was once controlled by Songsongbulu, who spread deviant teachings. Khailullah and Songsongbulu agreed to a contest, whoever lost had to leave the island.
Instead of using weapons, they competed by boiling eggs in the sea. Khailullah won, and the island was Islamized according to the Sultan's decree.
Over time, Simeulue was occupied by the Dutch and the Japanese. During the Japanese era, it was used as a strategic defense location. After independence, it eventually became an autonomous regency in 1999.
During the conflict between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Indonesian government, Simeulue remained safe because it is located far from the mainland. Because it is in the Indian Ocean, the island also has strong waves that attract surfers from all over the world. Some even call it "The Next Mentawai".
The island is rich in natural resources, and one of its top commodities is lobster. Simeulue teaches us that local wisdom is not just a story from the past. Smong proves that culture and knowledge can save lives and serve as an effective disaster mitigation system.
