Mount Ruangan Eruption, Government Continues To Effort To Evacuate 9,000 Residents

JAKARTA - The government continues to seek the evacuation process for 9,083 residents on Tagulandang Island within a radius of 7 kilometers from the eruption center of Mount Ruang, Sitaro Regency, North Sulawesi, as recommended by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG).

This was conveyed by the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Suharyanto while chairing a coordination meeting for the handling of the Mount Ruang eruption disaster at the North Sulawesi Governor's Office, Manado City, Thursday, May 2, 2024.

According to Suharyanto, 3,364 refugees have been evacuated out of Tagulandang Island. Meanwhile, there are still 5,719 people in the evacuation process that are carried out in stages.

"At least 9,000 residents within a seven-kilometer radius must be evacuated immediately," explained Suharyanto.

The evacuation process for residents is carried out using several ships, such as KM Glory Mery, KRI Kakap-811, KM Marina Bay, KM Lohoraung, KPL Basarnas, KM Lokongbanua, KM Barcelona Lii, and KM Beacukai. This evacuation process is carried out in stages from April 30 to May 2, 2024 and is expected to be completed within the next three days.

"Hopefully this evacuation process can be completed in three days," said Suharyanto.

The temporary evacuation locations for residents who were evacuated have been prepared by the government at several points, such as the Tumou Tou Manado Center, Sentra at Paal 4 UPT of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Bapelkes Malalayang, BLK Bitung, Siau Island, and several other areas independently.

According to Head of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) Hendra Gunawan, historically Mount Ruang is very common in issuing hot clouds. This stratovolcano-type volcano is also recorded to experience a series of eruptions that have a direct impact on human life and livelihood.

"It turns out that historically Mount Ruang is very common in issuing hot clouds. So it's right that this is a dangerous area," explained Hendra.

According to records, the eruption of the Ruang Volcano occurred in 1808, 1810, 1840, 1870, 1871, 1874, 1804, 1904-1905, 1914, 1915, 1915, 1940, 1946, 1949, 2002 and 2024. Even Hendra said that the eruption in 1871 also triggered tsunami waves and claimed up to 400 people.

On that basis, the government will take permanent steps to move residential areas, especially those on Ruang Island, the main island at the foot of Mount Ruang, to safer locations.