Mount Semeru Disaster Emergency Transition Status Extended Until 22 June

Mount Semeru emits hot clouds seen from the Pranajiwo area, Lumajang, East Java, Thursday (5/3/2020) (Antara)

LUMAJANG - The Lumajang Regency Government has extended the emergency transition status for the eruption of Mount Semeru. This is in accordance with the Lumajang Regent's Decree Number: 188.45/200/427.12/2022 concerning Extending the Transition Status from Emergency to Disaster Recovery from the Mount Semeru Eruption.

"It was stated that the transitional status was extended for 90 days, starting from March 25 to June 22, 2022," said Lumajang Regent Thoriqul Haq in the local district, Tuesday, March 5.

According to him, the status can be extended or terminated according to the conditions and developments that occur because until now the threat of disasters caused by the eruption of Mount Semeru tends to decrease.

However, he said, the situation on the ground related to the disruption of the lives and livelihoods of a group of people who survived the eruption of Mount Semeru was still ongoing, so further handling steps needed to be taken.

"To continue the process of recovering from the eruption of Mount Semeru, it is necessary to extend the status of the emergency transition to disaster recovery," said the Regent, who is usually called Cak Thoriq.

He explained that his party had assigned the Head of Regional Disaster Management (BPBD) of Lumajang Regency to take steps that were deemed necessary and urgent, as well as to coordinate between regional apparatus organizations.

"Later on, BPBD will prepare all potential for disaster management, both personnel, logistical volunteers and equipment, then increase the role of the community and the business world in dealing with the Semeru eruption disaster," he said, as reported by Antara.

Meanwhile, the progress of construction for temporary housing has reached 562 units, while for permanent housing, 1,656 units have been completed from the construction target of 1,951 units.

The Lumajang Regency Government is also targeting as many as 300 to 478 families who are still in refugee camps can immediately move to the relocation site in Sumbermujur Village, Candipuro District in the near future.

Regarding public facilities that are currently available, namely electricity, PLN still needs about a week for the final installation of a number of units that have been targeted and for the availability of water at several points it can be accessed.