BNPB: Death Of Semeru's Hot Cloud Falls To 46 People

Areas affected by the Semeru eruption (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - Plt. Head of the Center for Disaster Data, Information and Communication of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Abdul Muhari said the death toll from the hot clouds from Mount Semeru rose to 46 people as of Saturday, December 11 at 18.00 WIB.

"The impact of other fatalities is that nine people are still missing, while 18 people are seriously injured and 11 people are lightly injured," Abdul said in an official statement received on Saturday, December 11.

The Search and Rescue (SAR) team consisting of Basarnas personnel, TNI, Polri, BPBD, volunteers, and residents was divided into four groups where three groups focused on searching in three sectors while one was on standby to evacuate and assist in collecting data on residents affected by the disaster.

The first sector group conducted a search in the hamlets of Kajar Kuning and Curah Kobokan, the second group in the Pasir H. Satuhan mining area, and the third group in the hamlets of Kebondeli and Kampung Renteng.

Abdul said rainy weather conditions sometimes hinder the process of searching for missing victims. In the midst of unfavorable weather, Basarnas as the search coordinator needs to ensure the safety of the SAR team.

The total number of residents who fled on Saturday, December 11 was 9,118, consisting of 4,435 male survivors and 4,683 female survivors. BNPB, assisted by volunteers, continues to strengthen data collection in the field so that vulnerable survivors can be identified immediately.

The survivors were spread over 115 refugee posts, centered on 18 points in 3 sub-districts, namely Pasirian sub-district with six points with 2,081 refugees, Candipuro with eight points with 3,538 refugees, and Pronojiwo with four points with 1,056 refugees.

In an effort to handle this emergency, the local government activated a command post (posko) located in Pasirian District. This command post is supported by two Sub Task Force I Posts in Lumajang and Sub Task Force II Posts in Malang.

Meanwhile, the aid logistics post is centered in the Lumajang Regent's Pendopo, while the Field Support Post is in Penanggal Village, Candipuro District. In addition to search and rescue operations, the Command Post also prioritizes services to affected residents and the restoration of facilities and infrastructure.

As an effort to serve residents, the main emergency response post in Lumajang opened a service center at 081234570077 which is expected to help residents during the emergency response period until December 17, 2021.

Children get entertainment from volunteers at the evacuation post for the eruption of Mount Semeru in Penanggal, Candipuro, Lumajang, East Java, Saturday (11/12/2021). A number of volunteers held trauma healing to entertain children after the eruption of Mount Semeru. BETWEEN PHOTOS/Budi Candra Setya/aww. (BETWEEN PHOTOS/BUDI CANDRA SETYA)