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Sleman, Central Java. The arrival of the rainy season has triggered the time bomb experts have long feared: volcanic mudflows comprised of millions of tons of ash and debris blanketing Merapi’s slopes after last year’s eruptions.

The impact is spreading this week. Mudflows are affecting not just residents of Sleman’s north and east, but those in the west as well as the Progo River threatens Kisik 1 village, which sits about 1.2 kilometers from its edge.

The river has experienced extreme shallowing due to the sedimentation of ash. Volcanic mud has repeatedly spilled over its banks and flooded residents’ homes, gardens and rice fields.

Past experience has made Kisik 1 resident Samirin wary.

“If there’s mudflow in the Putih and Krasak rivers, it is bound to end up in the Progo River,” he said. “Almost all the levees are damaged or have been washed away. Even the east bank of the river, which was four meters high, has been washed out.”

Residents said Kisik 1 has been hit by five mudflows already this year, damaging homes and smothering rice fields and gardens in sand. Village official Isdiyanto said a significant area had been affected.

“Around six hectares of rice fields failed to bear harvest as a result of the flooding,” he said.

Widi Sutikno, who heads the water resources agency in Sleman, said addressing the mudflows was difficult because of limited funding.

“The best solution may be to construct retaining walls, but we don’t have the money,” Widi said.

Reports in August said that Rp 444 billion ($49.7 million) had been set aside by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) to deal with the mudflows.

Roughly Rp 181 billion of that was said to be earmarked for water resources infrastructure, including the stabilization of river banks, on the Putih River and other areas located downstream of Merapi ash depos its.