Mount Dempo Sumsel Erupts, BPBD Prepares Evacuation Lines For Residents

JAKARTA - Evacuation lines will soon be prepared for residents around Mount Dempo, Pagar Alam, South Sumatra (Sumsel), which erupted on Saturday afternoon and had Alert Status (Level II).

Head of Emergency and Logistics Division of Pagar Alam City BPBD Anjas Hariansyah said the construction of the evacuation route was included in the long-term disaster mitigation program.

His party will coordinate further with technical agencies from the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the City Government (Pemkot) Pagar Alam, and Lahat Regency, regarding the construction of the evacuation route.

"In the process of mapping elements of society, they will be more involved because they will know more about which direction they can evacuate," said Anjas, confirmed from Jakarta, Antara, Sunday, November 24.

Based on the results of an analysis from the Geological Agency's volcano monitoring team in Dempo Makmur Village, Pagar Alam Utara, Pagar Alam City, it is known that the height of the ash column was observed more than 200 meters above the crater of Mount Dempo merapi with volcanic ash intensity leaning north.

It is known that the position of Merapi Crater, which is the center of the eruption, is next to the peak of Mount Dempo, which has its back to Pagar Alam City and is more directed to several villages in Lahat Regency with different vegetation.

"So that's why in response to the incident of Mount Dempo, we have to jointly discuss involving all elements," he added.

However, he emphasized that in principle the eruption that occurred yesterday afternoon was still in a safe indicator and did not endanger the community, because it only happened at the peak or around the Merapi Crater of Mount Dempo.

BPBD Pagar Alam confirmed that so far there has been no evacuation of residents and tourism activities are also still allowed to go to tea plantation areas, a number of natural tourist destinations at the foot of Mount Dempo, as well as afdeling IV tourist villages (initial climbing points).

However, climbing activities to the top of Mount Dempo via public routes are still not possible as recommended by the Geological Agency because the mountain has the status of Alert (Level II) status.