Deputy Regent Of Sleman: Lereng Merapi Tourism Safe With Certain Requirements

Deputy Regent of Sleman Danang Maharsa together with Sleman Police Chief AKBP Imam Rifai and Sleman Commander (Dandim) Lt. Col. Arm Danny Arianto Pardamean/ANTARA

SLEMAN - Deputy Regent of Sleman, Special Region of Yogyakarta Danang Maharsa said tourist destinations on the slopes of Mount Merapi are still in safe condition but with certain conditions after being affected by extreme weather on Thursday, December 29. "However, if the weather tends to have the potential for high intensity rain, then anticipatory steps will be taken," said Danang in accordance with visiting the tourist area on the slopes of Merapi which was affected by extreme weather, Antara, Friday, December 30. Danang Maharsa together with Sleman Police Chief AKBP Imam Rifai and Sleman Commander (Dandim) Lt. Col. Arm Danny Arianto Pardamean conducted a review of a number of locations affected by extreme weather in the North Sleman area today. The review was carried out in three locations, namely Kalikuning Lereng Merapi, Plunyon Bridge located in the Kapanewon (District) Cangkringan and Tlogo Putri areas in the Kapanewon Pakem area. Previously, yesterday heavy rains that fell on the slopes of Merapi caused three tourist ventures to be trapped in the Kuning River (Sungai). At the same time, heavy rains also caused cliffs in the tourist area of Tlogo Putri Kaliurang and Plunyon Cangkringan Bridge to experience landslides. "We monitored several disaster locations due to heavy rains in Leren Merapi yesterday. We carried out this monitoring to ensure directly the impact of heavy rains," he said. The Kali Kuning area on the slopes of Merapi is the first location visited by the Deputy Regent of Sleman and the Head of Sleman Police and the Dandim of Sleman. During the review, the Deputy Regent of Sleman, Danang Maharsa, met a number of tourers to find out more about the conditions in the Kali Kuning area. Then the review was continued to the Tlogo Putri area and Plungon tourism. Danang Maharsa said that his party would coordinate further regarding the results of direct reviews of a number of tourist attractions affected by heavy rains. "We hope that these tourist attractions, Kuning River, Tlogoputri and Plungon are still safe and of course it is a concern for all of us to remain vigilant regarding recent weather information so that they can increase vigilance," he said. The Head of Sleman Police, AKBP Imam Rifai, said that in addition to ensuring safe conditions, his party also provided directions regarding how to act according to security operational standards if rainfall increased, namely immediately agreeing on strict action by temporarily closing tourist sites that could potentially be affected by weather. As for the Plunyong tourist location, which is a tourist spot under the auspices of the Mount Merapi National Park Office, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, decided to temporarily close the tourist attraction. Head of the Gunung Merapi Karyadi National Park Office said the policy of temporarily closing the Plunyon natural tourist attraction was carried out in connection with landslides on road cliffs leading to entrances and the need for intensive checks of other locations prone to landslides.