Weather And Thick Hot Mud Are Obstacles To Evacuating Victims Of The Semeru Eruption

PHOTOS OF SPECIAL DOCKS

LUMAJANG - Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Lumajang, East Java mentioned several obstacles that hindered the evacuation process for victims of the eruption of Mount Semeru.

The obstacle was caused by bad weather and the intensity of eruptions that were still happening. This condition causes hot mud deposits to thicken.

"This makes it difficult to find several victims who are still reported missing. The weather is not friendly, the ash thickness is almost 1 meter, this makes the evacuation process difficult", said Head of Disaster Management and Logistics for BPBD Lumajang, Wawan Hadi, Monday, December 6.

In addition to these factors, the mud material in the location is classified as hot. So the team could not be careless to enter the victim evacuation point area.

"It can't be rushed, we have to stay alert. To enter the evacuation area we have to use fire-resistant boat boots", said Wawan.

Previously reported, the death toll from the eruption of Mount Semeru in Lumajang Regency increased by two people. The total until now the death toll has increased to 19, from the previous 17 people.

"Two victims were found at around 13.10 WIB, dead", said the head of the operations and standby section of the Surabaya Basarnas, I Wayan Suyatna, confirmed on Monday, December 6.

According to Wayan, the two dead victims were found in the Kampung Renteng river, Candipuro District. The two bodies were identified as male.

"The two bodies were immediately rushed to Dr. Haryoto Lumajang Hospital for the identification process", he said.

Until the third day, joint officers continued to carry out search and rescue operations, on the possibility of residents who were victims of the hot clouds falling from Mount Semeru in Lumajang Regency.

The following is the total data on the victims or affected, namely 5,205 people affected, 27 missing, and 19 people dead. Meanwhile, the number of displaced residents amounted to 1,707 people spread over 19 points.