Mount Semeru Erupts, East Java BPBD Sends Team To Help Evacuate Affected Residents

PHOTO VIA ANTARA

SURABAYA - The East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) sent a team to help Lumajang Regency BPBD evacuate residents affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru.

"The East Java Province disaster agency and TRC PB BPBD Lumajang went to the location for assessment and evacuation of residents around Mount Semeru," said Head of East Java BPBD Budi Santosa in Surabaya quoted by Antara, Saturday, December 4.

BPBD Lumajang, he said, also directly coordinated with local village officials to carry out evacuation steps.

His party also claimed to have reported the condition of Mount Semeru to the Governor of East Java Khofifah Indar Parawansa, Deputy Governor Emil Elestianto Dardak, and the Daily Executive of the Regional Secretary of East Java Province as well as the Head of the East Java BPBD Heru Tjahjono.

He explained that based on initial information there had been an increase in the activity of Mount Semeru in Supiturang Village, Pronojiwo District, Lumajang Regency.

"Today's chronology at around 15.00 western Indonesia time there has been an increase in the activity of the Semeru Volcano accompanied by hot clouds of avalanches," said the former Head of the East Java PP Satpol.

So far, his party has not received any reports related to the loss of life in the incident.

"So far, there have been no reports of fatalities and hopefully there won't be any. Including the impact because data collection is still being done," he said.

BPBD also appealed to residents to stay away from the area around the river which originates in the mountain which has a height of 3,676 meters above sea level (masl) as well as the highest volcano on the island of Java.