Ash Rain Of Mount Marapi Still Occurs, Residents Are Urged To Reduce Outdoor Activities

JAKARTA - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Agam Regency, West Sumatra appealed to residents to reduce outdoor activities as Mount Marapi's volcanic ash rain still occurred in some areas.

"Until today there is still ash rain, only ash rain, the gravel is gone," said Head of BPBD Agam Regency Bambang Wasito as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, December 5.

He stated that areas that were still affected by volcanic ash rain in several sub-districts, namely Canduang District, Pua River, Ampek Angkek, and Malalak District.

Even though it was affected by the rain of volcanic ash, none of the residents in the four sub-districts had fled.

Currently, the Agam Regency Government continues to urge residents to wear masks if they are going to carry out activities outside the home so that it does not have an impact on health conditions.

The Agam Regency Government, supported by the West Sumatra Provincial Government, has also activated and alerted a health center if there are residents whose health is affected by the volcanic activity of Mount Marapi.

The health center was alerted at the surrounding health centers and a health center adjacent to the emergency handling command post (posko) of the eruption of Mount Marapi. This post is located at the Walinagari Batupalano Office, Sungai Pua District.

He appealed to residents not to carry out activities within a three km radius of the crater peak, considering the level of volcanic activity of the Marapi Volcano which is still at level II or alert.

"Residents who have been displaced so far, thank God, there are still none. The Agam Regency Government has activated and alerted health centers at health centers and one adjacent to the emergency handling post at the Batupalano Walinagari Office for 24 hours," he said.

Bambang said the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI Team) team had succeeded in identifying five victims who died. While 18 others are still in search and rescue.

"Everything has been handed over to the family. For 18 climbers who have not gone down, we are still trying to continue to search, while we also continue to see the conditions on the ground," he said.