Mount Space Eruption Still Occurs, Government Continues To Evacuate Affected Residents

MANADO - The joint task force team for handling the Mount Ruang eruption disaster on the Island of the Sitaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi Province, continues to make efforts to save the affected residents until Sunday, April 21.

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari in a release received in Manado Monday said that since the first day the stratovolcano-type volcano rose to level IV (awas) or on Wednesday the North Sulawesi Provincial Government together with the Sitaro Regency Government gradually vacated the area that entered a radius of six kilometers from the top of the mountain, according to recommendations from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG).

In addition to being evacuated to a safe radius, residents were also evacuated to several locations outside Tagulandang Island, such as Manado City, Bitung City, and North Minahasa.

"The temporary transfer of affected residents was facilitated by the Indonesian Navy using KRI Kakap 811, Basarnas with KM Bima Sena, and ASDP who deployed KM Marina, KM Lokong Banua, KM Lohoraung, KM Pasatibo, including other ferry boats and motor boats belonging to residents," he said.

The residents who were evacuated outside the island of Tamulandang are migrants, including local residents who have families in Manado City, Bitung City, and Minahasa, to vulnerable groups that include pregnant women, the elderly, people with disabilities, as well as residents who are sick and need intensive care.

The entire series of evacuation efforts, he said, were solely for safety and security reasons.

In order to meet food needs for affected residents and refugees including cross-stakeholder personnel on duty, the joint task force team has also set up field public kitchens at several points not far from the evacuation site, such as those in Apengsala Village, Sitaro Regency. The public kitchen is managed by the Social Service together with the TNI.

Psychosocial support services by the Ministry of Social Affairs are also continuously carried out for psychological assistance for displaced children.

This is done to dispel feelings of trauma and provide entertainment while living temporarily in refugee camps.

Meanwhile, a health post has also been established at the Paninteang Church Building, Lesah Village, Sitaro Regency.

A team from the Health Office, PMI, including other volunteers continue to provide health services and distribute masks regularly, following the periodic eruption of Mount Ruang which is still occurring and ejecting volcanic ash that can pose a risk to public health.

Elements from the TNI and Polri also continue to work together with various parties to clean the streets of rock, gravel and volcanic ash sand that is vomited by Mount Ruang during the eruption.

The large number of volcanic material has damaged 363 housing units and two churches.

Then PLN SulutGo has also repaired the electricity network which was previously extinguished due to the impact of the eruption to make it easier for the task force team to rescue and evacuate residents, including other steps in a series of emergency handling operations.

The joint task force team has established a main post in Apengsala Village, Tamulandang District, which is approximately 15 kilometers from the foot of Mount Ruang.

This holding post is the center of cross-employment command (stakeholder) for coordination, development reports, and all series of emergency handling in Sitaro Regency.

Abdul Muhari also explained, in an effort to rescue and evacuate, the joint task force team also continued to encourage support in the form of logistics and equipment needed during emergency handling by focusing on meeting the basic needs of affected residents and evacuation.

The types of support include 1.5 tons of rice, 30 doses of instant noodles, 100 cans of sardin fish, 50 sheets of masks, blankets, toiletries, sanitary napkins, mats/matras, and several medicines sent by Makodam XIII/MDK, Korem, and ranks.

Furthermore, there were 123 mats, 400 blankets, two tarpaulins, 2,000 masks, 10 kg of sugar, coffee, and tea from the Sitaro Regency Government. Then basic necessities, masks, and blankets from the local Social Service.

Next, the Ministry of Social Affairs has also sent 100 rolled tents, 200 sheets of blankets, 20 mattresses, 16 velbeds, 50 packages of family kits, 500 kg of eggs, 50 boxes of sardin fish, 50 kg of kitchen spices, and 200 boxes of mineral water.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has also encouraged support in the form of 10 thousand sheets of zinc, 5 sets of refugee tents, 100 units of family tents, 4 units of light towers, 4 units of generators, 300 packages of basic necessities, 300 packages of ready-to-eat food, 300 packages of hygiene kits, 300 sheets of mattresses, 300 sheets of blankets, 150 sheets of mattresses, 300 boxes of masks, 50 units of velbeds, then 10 units of portable toilets, and 300 packages of refugee survival kits.

BNPB also provides support in the form of Ready-to-Use Funds (DSP) worth 350 million rupiah to support operations including meeting the basic needs of affected residents and refugees.

All types of assistance were sent from Sam Ratulangi Air Base, Manado City Port, and Bitung City Port. The logistics warehouses of all types of assistance are located at three points, namely the main command post, residents' houses, and at the Minanga port in Sitaro Regency.