The Lost Village of Legetang

The Legetang village is a prosperous village located not far from the Dieng plateau-Banjarnegara, approximately 2 kilometers to the north. Legetang village located in the village Pekasiran, Batur subdistrict, Banjarnegara district, still in the mountainous region Dieng Plateau - Petarangan. The villagers were quite prosperous and most of them are quite successful farmer. They farmed vegetables, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and so on. However, with all the success that they achieved, they practice many immoral deeds. Most of them are gamblers in this village, as well as drunk all day long. Every night they held lengger performances, a traditional arts performed by female dancers, which often leads to adultery. In fact, according to stories handed down, the only mosque in Legetang then be used as a place to raise dogs and the area of gambling.

On one evening, April 17, 1955, heavy rains pouring down the village. But the villagers still immersed in immorality. When the rain stopped in the middle of the night, , suddenly there was a loud sound like a big bomb was dropped there, or like the sound of very heavy objects falling. The voice sounded to the neighboring villages. But that night no one would dare go out because the road was very dark and slippery.

The next morning, the community around the Legetang village curious with the mysterious sound on the night before. At that time, it was seen that the peak of Mount Pengamun-Amun has been split. And buried the Legetang village. The village which had been a valley is not only flattened, but it becomes a new earthen mound resembling a hill. The entire population were dead, buried alive.

If the Mountain Pengamun-Amun landslides, then the avalanches will simply burying the river underneath it. However, this incident is not a mountain avalanche. Between the Legetang village and the mountain there are rivers and ravines, which still exists today. Actually, the distance between the mountain and the village was far away, so it is still a mystery that the landslides could burying the village. Thus, it's as if the landslide was flying from the mountain, and then befall the village.

The disappearance of Legetang village and its inhabitants are still a mystery, because Suhuri who live in nearby village (Pekasiran) and several other Pekasiran village residents who is still alive said that between the foot of the mountain to the border of the residential area in the village was not buried, even though the distance is only few hundred meters.

"The avalanches was like flying from the mountain side and fell right in the settlements. Very strange, "said Suhuri while explaining.

At that time everyone was stunned with the eerie atmosphere when they saw the whole area of Legetang village buried. There's not even a visible part of the houses. Also there was not even a single signs of life of its inhabitants, recalls Suhuri.

Now, on the top of the hill of the doomed village, there is a memorial obelisk erected by the local government with an inscription on it.

It written:

(In Indonesian):

“TUGU PERINGATAN ATAS TEWASNJA 332 ORANG PENDUDUK DUKUH LEGETANG SERTA 19 ORANG TAMU DARI LAIN-LAIN DESA SEBAGAI AKIBAT LONGSORNJA GUNUNG PENGAMUN-AMUN PADA TG. 16/17-4-1955”

(English translation):

"TO COMMEMORATE THE DEATHS OF 332 PERSON RESIDENT OF LEGETANG VILLAGE AND 19 PEOPLE OF GUEST FROM ANOTHER VILLAGE AS A RESULT OF THE LANDSLIDE OF PENGAMUN-AMUN MOUNTAIN ON 16TH/17TH - 4 -1955"

Sources:

http://www.koran-sindo.com/news.php?r=6&n=1&date=2016-02-19

http://duniatimteng.com/tragedi-legetang-legenda-kaum-sodom-gomorah-di-nusantara/

Pic Source:

http://duniatimteng.com/wp-content/uploads/desa-legetang-dieng.jpg