Merapi Activity Increases, Emergency Response Period Is Extended

Mount Merapi (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Sleman Regency Government in Yogyakarta Special Region for the second time has extended the emergency response period for the eruption of Mount Merapi. This is because the active volcanic activity of the volcano is still increasing.

After the enactment of the Merapi eruption emergency response status ended on November 30, 2020, the Sleman Regency Government extended its enforcement from December 1 to 31, 2020 and extended its enforcement from January 1 to 31, 2021.

"Based on the report on the results of monitoring the activities of Mount Merapi from the BPPTKG on December 18 to 24, 2020 there has been an increase in volcanic activity so that the status of Mount Merapi activity remains at Alert status or level III," said Head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Sleman Regency Joko Supriyanto in Sleman, reported by Antara, Saturday, January 2.

He said that currently there is still a potential danger of lava avalanches, eruption of volcanic material, and hot clouds from Mount Merapi.

In addition, he continued, there were still 240 residents from the Mount Merapi area who had fled at the Glagaharjo refugee camp, Cangkringan, and needed assistance from the local government to meet basic needs.

"So the Sleman Regency Government is recommended to carry out disaster mitigation due to the eruption of Mount Merapi which can occur at any time," he said.

Joko explained that the implementation of an emergency response status allows local governments to use unexpected fund allocations for disaster impact management purposes.