East Java Governor Khofifah Answers Assumption There Is No Mitigation Of The Semeru Eruption

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa monitors areas affected by the Semeru eruption (Source: Antara)

LUMAJANG - East Java Governor, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, explained that the mitigation process and an early warning system (EWS) when there will be hot clouds falling from Mount Semeru have been running. Khofifah answered many assumptions about the absence of warning from the authorities.

"From the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) it has been confirmed, including signs indicating evacuation routes have also been installed. However, the material brought in this time's avalanche appears to be much larger", she said while inspecting the settlements in Renteng Village, Lumajang Regency, Sunday, December 5.

The village located in Sumberwuluh Village was one of the locations that were severely affected by the hot clouds falling, causing dozens of houses to be buried in volcanic ash and materials.

When there was an increase in the activity of Mount Semeru, Khofifah explained that evacuation efforts had been carried out. One of them can be seen from the pile of two trucks that were stopped close together.

"That is, they evacuated simultaneously. But because the material avalanche was very large, they were trapped. Until someone took shelter on the roof of the house and so on", said Khofifah.

The number one person in the East Java Provincial Government asked all parties to remain vigilant and never underestimate natural phenomena, especially in the Semeru area which is the highest volcano on the island of Java.

"We also hope that our media friends will help in the process of delivering comprehensive information from what has been done by the Lumajang Forkopimda and surrounding regencies/cities", she said.

"The role of ORARI (Organization for Amateur Radio Indonesia) is very important and is in the most significant line for information and updates in the field. But I still see that there are some blank spots, including in Pronojiwo", said Khofifah.

Meanwhile, during the visit to Renteng Village, the governor was accompanied by the Regent of Lumajang Thoriqul Haq, the Commander of the 0821 Lumajang Kodim Lieutenant Colonel Andi A. Wibowo and several volunteer coordinators.

According to Antara's monitoring, the joint apparatus of the TNI (Army) and National Police carried out sterilization and guarded the access door to Renteng Village so that no residents approached for security reasons.

On Saturday afternoon, December 4, Mount Semeru emitted hot smoke and rained ash into the surrounding area. Residents who live in villages around the 3,676 meters high mountain above sea level were evacuated to avoid the impact of hot clouds falling.

East Java Governor, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, accompanied by Lumajang Regent, Thoriqul Haq, and several local Forkopimda (Regional Leadership Coordination Forum) officials during a visit to Renteng Village in Sumberwuluh Village which was buried by material ash due to avalanche of hot clouds from Mount Semeru, Sunday, December 5.