Refugees Of Residents Affected By The Semeru Eruption Disaster Are Spread Across 21 Points

One of the evacuation locations for residents of the slopes of Mount Semeru at Penanggal Village Hall, Candipuro District, Lumajang/ANTARA Regency

LUMAJANG - Refugees of residents affected by the eruption disaster accompanied by hot clouds of avalanches (APG) of Mount Semeru are spread over 21 points spread across a number of village halls and other public facilities in Lumajang Regency, East Java. "Based on our data collection, there are 21 points used by residents to evacuate, namely a number of village halls, mosques, fields, and educational institutions spread across Candipuro District," said Candipuro District Secretary Abdul Aziz when confirmed by telephone in Lumajang, Antara, Sunday night. No resident lives in Kajar Kuning Hamlet, Sumberwuluh Village, Candipuro District because the area has been vacated since a year after the very devastating Semeru APG disaster. "Most of the residents who fled due to panic and are still traumatized by the Semeru APG disaster which resulted in their families' deaths," he said. According to him, survivors affected by the Semeru APG a year ago had occupied permanent housing and temporary housing that was relocated in Sumbermujur Village, which is located safer from the Semeru eruption disaster. However, some residents are still working on gardens in the Kajar Kuning area and its surroundings. "Currently, there are some residents who return to their permanent residences in Sumbermujur Village to rest, but there are still those who are traumatized and choose to go to the evacuation posts spread over 21 points," he said. He explained that the number of refugees spread across the 21 points is estimated at 2,000 people and most residents choose to evacuate at the Candipuro District Office as many as 500 people. "To supply the refugees' food, the Social Service Office has established two public kitchens at Penanggal Village Hall and Tumpeng Village. The location of the public kitchen is likely to change according to the location of the refugees," he said. The Lumajang Regency Government has set a disaster emergency response period due to the eruption accompanied by the Mount Semeru APG for 14 days since Sunday in line with the increase in mountain status which has an altitude of 3,676 meters above sea level to Alert or Level IV.