TV soap on mud disaster set to air

SIDOARJO: A noxious mudflow from near an exploratory oil well in Indonesia is the backdrop to a new TV soap opera -- and it has the backing of the very company under fire for the disaster.   

The 13-episode love story is being backed by Lapindo Brantas, the local firm operating the well in East Java province.   

There has been growing public anger over repeated failures to stem the flow and complaints of insufficient compensation.   

"We don't want to blame anyone through this show. We want to show that behind this tragedy something positive can appear," director Daniel Rifki said.   

The oozing grey mud has swamped an area larger than Monaco and displaced more than 10,000 people from their homes in the Sidoarjo area of East Java.