Nagari Padang Laweh, Pua River And Ampek Angkek Prepared As Evacuation Points During The Eruption Of Mount Marapi

Head of the Emergency Response Team, Erupsi Marapi Kristianto, explained the condition of Mount Marapi and the type of disaster that could potentially occur if it erupted. (ANTARA/Miko Elfisha)

PANDANG - Danrem 032 Wirabraja Brigadier General Rayen Obersyl said his party had prepared three evacuation points for the community as an anticipatory measure against the potential eruption of Mount Marapi whose status had been raised from level II (alert) to level III (standby) since January 9, 2024. "We have prepared three evacuation points for people who are in the red zone with a radius of 4.5 kilometers from the peak of Marapi if at any time there is an eruption," he said in Nagari Batu Palano, Agam Regency, Antara, Wednesday, January 10. He said the three evacuation points were in Nagari (Village) Padang Laweh, Sungai Pua, and Ampek Angkek, which are quite far apart and relatively safe. In addition, his party also provides shelter locations in two villages, namely Nagari Sungai Pua and Nagari Koto Tinggi, Agam Regency. The location of this shelter is by utilizing schools. "We also set up field posts, namely the Pua and Batang Lasi rivers. At this post, personnel are stationed by involving all elements," he said. He estimates that the threat of the eruption of Mount Marapi will have an impact on 12 thousand residents in six villages around the mountain. The closest residents are 4.1 kilometers away in Limo Kampuang and 4.3 kilometers in Bukit Batabuah. "The disaster that needs to be anticipated from the eruption of Mount Marapi is the incandescent lava as well as cold lava floods. From the contours of the mountains, there are basins at two points, namely in Limo Kampuang and Bukit Baratapua which have the potential to trigger cold lava floods," he said.. Apart from Agam, cold lava also has the potential to hit a number of areas in Tanah Datar following the basin route to form a river. Meanwhile, the Head of the Emergency Response Team for Eruption Marapi, Kristianto, said that as an anticipatory measure, it is hoped that the community will not be within a radius of 4.5 kilometers from the crater because it is estimated that volcanic material measuring rocks and pebbles can reach that radius. In addition, if an eruption occurs, it will cause ash rain, so that people must protect their breathing with masks so as not to be exposed to the ISPA and protect their eyes and skin. "It is also important to protect clean water sources," he said.

Meanwhile, West Sumatra Governor Mahyeldi said that his party was ready to coordinate with all parties to anticipate the impact of disasters if the eruption of Merapi occurred.