BNPB Prepare Helicopters To Help Residents Affected By Mount Space Eruption

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has alerted helicopters to assist emergency handling efforts for residents in the Sitaro Islands, North Sulawesi, and surrounding areas affected by the eruption of Mount Ruang.

"There is a helicopter unit alerted at the Klapit Stadium Ball Field, Manado City today," said Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari, quoted from Antara, Saturday, April 20.

He ensured that the helicopter was ready to support all emergency needs, both to transport all logistical assistance and evacuate residents in the Sitaro Islands and its surroundings.

With the helicopter on standby, BNPB hopes that efforts to handle emergency evacuation and distribution of aid can run optimally because previously it only relied on ship transportation from Basarnas and the Indonesian Navy.

"Resident safety is a priority," he said.

Based on data from the BNPB recapitulation, it is known that there are 11,624 residents of the Sitaro Islands affected by the eruption of Mount Ruang that has occurred since Thursday (18/4).

A total of 11,624 residents were spread across 10 villages and two sub-districts in Tagulandang District, including Pumpente, Laing Patehi, Mahangiang, Tulusan Barukka Pepehe, Apengsala, Lesah Rende, Pahiama, Boto, Leseh, and Kelurahaan Bahoi and Balehumara.

BNPB ensures that most of the total residents affected by the eruption of Mount Ruang have fled to safe places using emergency posts, houses of worship to their relatives' homes.

In addition to destroying hundreds of residents' houses, BNPB reported rain of volcanic ash accompanied by gravel and rocks ejected from the volcanic eruption also damaged several public facilities, including two churches and one school building.

BNPB also began sending aid to meet basic needs for residents affected by the eruption of Mount Ruang, Saturday. The assistance included five refugee tents, 100 family tents, four lighting towers, four diesel generator machines, 300 packages of basic necessities, 300 packages of ready-to-eat food, 300 packages of antibacterial equipment, 300 sheets of mattresses, 300 sheets of blankets, 150 sheets of mattresses, 300 boxes of masks, folding beds or 50 units of velbeds, 10 packages of portable toilets, and 300 packages of refugee survival kits.