TNI Commander Deploys Soldiers To Help Handling The Semeru Eruption

SURABAYA - The Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) General TNI Andika Perkasa stated that he has deployed territorial soldiers around Mount Semeru who are experiencing increased activity to help with disaster management.

"The TNI is also ready to deploy assistance from the center if soldiers in the territorial area need support," he said on the sidelines of his working visit in Surabaya, quoted by Antara, Saturday, December 4.

Mount Semeru issued a hot cloud avalanche at around 15.00 western Indonesia time. While there have been no reports of casualties.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) released hot clouds of avalanches from Mount Semeru impacting one sub-district, namely Pronojiwo, in Lumajang Regency, East Java.

Meanwhile, BNPB in a written statement stated that the Lumajang Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) team had attempted to establish a sectoral evacuation point in the Kamarkajang field, Sumberwuluh Village, Candipuro District, Lumajang Regency.

TNI Commander Andika Perkasa revealed that the leading sector for disaster management is indeed the authority of BNPB.

He ensured that TNI soldiers in the territorial level of the Military District Command (Kodim), Military Resort Command (Korem), to the Regional Military Command (Kodam) were accustomed to providing assistance to BNPB related to disaster management in the region.

"The point is that we are ready. In the sense that every territorial unit of the Kodim, Korem, and Kodam is used to providing disaster relief assistance," he said.

TNI Commander General Andika said that TNI soldiers in the territory around Mount Semeru needed support from the center and were ready to deploy additional troops.

"We've done that many times. In the case of assistance that cannot be provided by the Regional Military Command or the Operations Unit Command in East Java. We will provide support from the center so that disaster management in the regions can be better handled," he said.