BPBD Halbar: 255 People Are In Refugee Points Of Mount Ibu Eruption

A total of 255 people affected by the eruption of Mount Ibu are still at two refugee points in Tongute Village and one point in Akesibu Village (doc. Antara).

JAKARTA - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of West Halmahera Regency (Halbar), North Maluku (Malut) said that at least 255 people affected by the eruption of Mount Ibu were still at two refugee points in Tongute Village and one point in Akesibu Village.

"We continue to serve and provide various needs for 255 people affected by the eruption of Mount Ibu who are currently still in the evacuation area," said Head of Emergency and Logistics Division of BPBD Halbar, Sofyan Aswad, as reported by Antara on Saturday, January 18, 2025.

Sofyan Aswad said the number of refugees and refugee camps, namely in Tongute Ternate Village with 208 refugees from Sangaji Nyeku Village.

Meanwhile, the refugee points at the Tongute Village Office amounted to 17 refugees from the Borona hamlet and evacuation points in Akesibu Village/ Tua Church with a total of 30 refugees from the hamlet of Togoreba Sungi. A total of 255 refugees.

The Ibu Volcano Observation Post (PGA) in West Halmahera Regency reported that since Friday, January 17, 2025, until the night there were 34 eruptions on the mountain with varying volcanic ash heights.

The officer of the PGA Ibu Post in West Halmahera Regency, Rivaldi Hasan, in his statement said that the eruption from 00.01-06.00 WIT had reached 13 times. The eruption with gray smoke was observed as high as 300-800 meters.

For 06.00-12.00 WIT, there were 21 eruptions with an intensity of 600-800 meters and a color of gray smoke above the top of the mountain.

Meanwhile, the Halbar Regency Government held a meeting with the Dandim 1501/Ternate and the Deputy for BNPB RI to discuss emergency response measures to deal with the eruption of Mount Ibu which is now Level IV or Alert, based on the recommendations of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG).

The Regent of Halbar, James Uang, said that there are six villages within a radius of 5-6 km from the mountain that must be evacuated immediately.

The villages include Sangaji Nyeku, Soa Sangaji, Tuguis, Togereba Sungi, Borona, and Tokoke, with a total of 2,000 people having to be evacuated.

However, as an anticipatory measure, the government has prepared refugee facilities, including MCK, sanitation, logistics, and accommodation, to ensure that the basic needs of refugees are met.

"Although the refugee camps are not as comfortable as their homes, we are trying to minimize public complaints," said James.

He also ensured that the health conditions of residents who had been evacuated so far remained safe.

Currently, only one village has been successfully evacuated. The other five villages will begin to be gradually moved after socialization and education to the community.

"The public needs an understanding of this situation so that they want to be evacuated for their safety," he said.