BNPB Asks No More Parties To Take Advantage Of Filming At Disaster Locations

JAKARTA - Plt. The Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Abdul Muhari regrets that the filming of the soap opera was taken at the evacuation site for residents affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru.

Abdul Muhari asked all parties not to use the disaster-affected location for personal gain. He hopes that the community will prioritize moral and material support to ease the burden on residents affected by the disaster.

"This activity should certainly not be carried out in the midst of people who are still in evacuation centers due to the disaster. BNPB hopes that this situation will no longer occur in the future," said Abdul Muhari in his statement, Friday, December 24.

Abdul Muhari also appealed to various parties to respect and empathize with disaster-affected communities and not to carry out activities that are not a priority during the emergency response.

In addition, Abdul Muhari also appealed to residents not to do disaster tourism, especially in areas directly affected by the hot cloud avalanche on December 4.

"This is solely done so that activities in the emergency response phase can run smoothly, and officers in the field are not disturbed by other activities outside the priority of emergency response activities," he said.

Previously, viral on social media circulated a video of the filming of the soap opera entitled "Terpaksa Menikahi Tuan Muda" which made the refugee post in Penanggal Village Field, Candipuro District, Lumajang Regency, as a shooting location. This caused a reaction of criticism from various parties, including volunteers.

It turned out that the location at the evacuation post for the Mount Semeru hot cloud disaster in Penanggal Village, Lumajang Regency, East Java did not have a permit. This was confirmed by the Regent of Lumajang Thoriqul Haq.

"There are no licenses for filming soap operas from the Regency Government, Polres, and the Semeru Task Force. The mechanism for licensing activities is at the Resort Police, but when entering the disaster area, the permit is with the Semeru Task Force Commander," said Thoriq.

Meanwhile, the production house for the soap opera Terpaksa Menikahi Tuan Muda, Verona Pictures, apologized via uploads on its Instagram account for being criticized during filming at the Mount Semeru disaster refugee location.

"If we have offended the victims with our arrival, we sincerely apologize from the bottom of our hearts," wrote Verona Pictures from Instagram @veronapictures.