187 Climbers In Ranu Kumbolo During The Semeru Eruption Successfully Dropped Safely

Illustration. The atmosphere of the flag ceremony commemorating Youth Pledge Day at Ranu Regulo, slopes of Mount Semeru, Monday 28 October 2019. (ANTARA-HO-Diskominfo Lumajang)

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has confirmed that most residents in Lumajang, East Java, who had fled due to the eruption of Mount Semeru, had gradually returned to their homes on Friday afternoon.

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari said the repatriation process for residents took place in line with the situation in a number of affected areas which gradually improved.

"Including 187 climbers of Mount Semeru who were previously reported to be on the Ranu Kumbolo Line, they also managed to get off safely," he said, confiscated by Antara.

Although he did not explain in detail the return of the refugees, Abdul said that data from the BNPB Operations Control Center noted that they were refugees who were previously scattered in nine refugee camps which were recorded to accommodate a total of 1,116 people as of Thursday (20/11) night at 19.30 WIB.

The evacuation locations include the houses of the Head of Sumbermujur Village, Candipuro District Office, Supit Urang Village Pom Mini, Pronojoyo District, Supit Urang 04 SDN, Sumber Urip 02 SDN, Oro-oro Ombo Village Hall, Nurul Jadid Mosque, Supit Urang Village, Bumdes Sumber Urip Village, and Oro-oro Ombo Mosque.

Abdul ensured that although some residents chose to return home, the local government through the East Java Provincial BPBD and the Lumajang Regency BPBD along with related elements, including BNPB, continued to distribute basic services for them.

Efforts to fulfill needs are carried out by establishing public kitchens, distributing logistical assistance and equipment such as food, tarpaulins, blankets, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

BNPB also continues to monitor the volcanic activity of Mount Semeru together with ministries and technical institutions to ensure conditions remain safe for residents and officers in the field.

The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) previously reported that Mount Semeru erupted on Wednesday (19/11) at 16.00 WIB with an eruptive column height of about 2,000 meters above the peak.

In the eruption, Mount Semeru emitted hot clouds which had a sliding distance of up to seven kilometers from the summit with a column of gray ash observed with thick intensity to the north and northwest.

Eruption was recorded on the seismogram of the volcano monitoring post in Lumajang with a maximum amplitude of 40 mm and a duration of about 16 minutes 40 seconds.

The eruption activity of Mount Semeru will certainly end at 18.11 WIB, but the local government and the Geological Agency are still setting Level IV or Alert status to anticipate further activities that still have the potential to occur.

This is also the basis for the stipulation of the Natural Disaster Emergency Response Status which is active until November 26 by the Lumajang Regency Government, East Java.