Deafening noise shown to have adverse health consequences, including higher risk of heart conditions for those exposed
\n Java
\nPeople in an Indonesian village watched as a tower of loudspeakers mounted on a truck rumbled through their usually serene home, blasting a thumping bass loud enough to crack windows.
\nLoudspeaker towers are commonplace on Indonesia\u2019s main island of Java, blaring a repetitive mix of electronic tunes and traditional folk music at street parties, but they have drawn the ire of local authorities and calm-seeking neighbours.
\nThe loudspeaker stacks have proven so disruptive that officials this month have restricted their use while religious bodies have declared excessive and damaging sound from them to be \u201charam\u201d, or forbidden under Islamic law.
\n\u201cThe sound is booming from 1pm to 3am. They play loud music and drink alcohol,\u201d Ahmad Suliyat, a resident of Ngantru village in East Java province, told AFP.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s really disturbing.\u201d
\nIndonesians in East Java have shared videos on social media of cracked walls, falling roof tiles and damaged stores caused by the noise impact known as \u201csound horeg\u201d, which loosely means to move or vibrate in Javanese.
\nThe online backlash forced authorities in East Java to issue an order this month limiting noise levels and specifying the times and locations loudspeakers can be used.
\n\u201cIt was made for health and security reasons. The noise level must be regulated so it will not disturb the public peace and order,\u201d East Java governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa told AFP.
\nHearing problems
\nEar-splitting noise has been shown to have adverse health consequences, including a higher risk of heart conditions for those exposed.
\nAnd Indonesia\u2019s loudspeaker towers, popular for little more than a decade in the world\u2019s most populous Muslim nation, have had dire consequences for some who attend the deafening street gatherings.
\nA woman died this month after allegedly suffering cardiac arrest caused by loudspeaker towers at a carnival she attended, local media reported, while there has been an increase in hearing problems among those attending the events.
\nThe East Java government has capped sound system levels at 120 decibels, while mobile units used in parades or protests are limited to 85 decibels.
\nMobile units are also banned from being used near schools, hospitals, ambulances and places of worship that are in session.
\nIn July, a local Islamic council issued a religious edict that said excessive sound at parties that is capable of causing damage is forbidden by religion.
\n\u201cThe use of a sound system excessively, especially during a wedding convoy, or any other events that cause noise, disturb road users, or make people neglect worshipping, is haram,\u201d read the fatwa.
\nLocals typically rent the speaker towers for weddings, circumcisions and Independence Day events \u2014 all celebrations that can last until dawn.
\nSome like Daini, who goes by one name like many Indonesians, believe the loudspeakers are a local tradition that should be kept. She glanced at her cracked window, held together by duct tape, as music blared from the truck in Ngantru.
\n\u201cThe glass cracked during a sound horeg event last year. But that\u2019s OK, people here like loud events,\u201d said the 61-year-old.
\nLax enforcement
\nBut loudspeakers have continued blasting above the new limits, due to lax enforcement by local authorities.
\nAfter the rules were issued, an AFP journalist heard loudspeaker towers blaring music at an East Javan event as authorities watched on. The World Health Organisation says sound at 85 decibels and above can cause hearing damage over time, and anything above 120 decibels can cause immediate harm.
\nSome Indonesians posted screenshots online of apps registering loudspeaker sound levels as high as 130 decibels.
\nOperators of loudspeaker towers argue they are responding to demand that generates revenue for local businesses.
\n\u201cI believe most people who dislike sound horeg are not from here,\u201d said David Stevan Laksamana, a 40-year-old loudspeaker rental owner in Malang.
\n\u201cIn Malang alone, it employed tens of thousands of people. This business is helping the economy.\u201d
\nOthers who cannot stand the disruptive street parties fear reporting them, with some loudspeaker tower owners reportedly parking outside complainants\u2019 houses to blare music for hours.
\n\u201cI never complain to the village head,\u201d said Ahmad. \u201cI just keep quiet. I\u2019m afraid of intimidation if I say anything.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Deafening noise shown to have adverse health consequences, including higher risk of heart conditions for those exposed Java People in an Indonesian village watched as a tower of loudspeakers mounted on a truck rumbled through their usually serene home, blasting a thumping bass loud enough to crack windows. Loudspeaker towers are commonplace on Indonesia\u2019s main […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":498814,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-498792","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n