BPBD Admits Lack Of Evacuation Vehicles Affected By Mount Ruang Eruption To Siau

BPBD is evacuating residents of Balehumara Village, Tagulandang District to Minanga Harbor, to be taken to the capital city of Siau Regency, Tuesday (30/4/2024). (ANTARA/Stenly Gaghunting)

SULUT - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) continues to evacuate residents of Tamulandang Island who were affected by the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro Regency, North Sulawesi (Sulut).

Secretary of BPBD Sitaro Regency Theo Umbas said the evacuation used four vehicles with details, two units from TNI 1 from BPBD, and 2 from the social service. However, according to him it is not enough.

"We still lack vehicles to evacuate residents to the port, so we have to go back and forth to the location," he said in North Sulawesi, Tuesday, April 30, which was confiscated by Antara.

Theo said that the refugees were transported from Balehumara Village, Tagulandang District, to Minanga Harbor, to be taken to the district capital, namely Siau.

According to him, efforts to deal with the evacuation of residents are very important because the condition of the eruption of Mount Ruang has not stopped.

The local district government also, he said, had extended the emergency response status due to the eruption of Mount Ruang in Tamulandang, for the next 14 days.

Acting (Pj) Regent Sitaro Joi Oroh added that the extension of the emergency response status through Regent Decree No. 110 is a form of the regional government's proactive against the current disaster conditions.

"This decision was taken in response to the increase in volcanic activity of the volcano at level IV or Alert," said Joi Oroh.

The Regent emphasized the importance of extending the emergency response status to ensure the availability of the resources and coordination needed in dealing with potential hazards from Mount Ruang.

This step was taken to maintain the safety and security of the entire community around the danger zone. As is the extension of the emergency response status carried out for 14 days from April 30 to May 14, 2024.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has confirmed that there are no casualties or injuries from the volcanic eruption.

"As of Tuesday afternoon at 15:55 WIB there were no reports of casualties or injuries due to the second phase of the eruption," said Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari in Jakarta.

He mentioned that the eruption of the 2nd phase of Mount Ruang which occurred in the early hours of this morning at around 02:35 WITA was greater than the activity two weeks earlier.

This was proven after the emergency response post in Apengsala Village, Tamulandang, which is seven kilometers outside the Disaster Prone Area (KRB) was also affected by volcanic material in the form of ash and pebbles.

However, he admitted that due to the high community preparedness for previous experiences and the massive efforts to overcome the affected areas, the casualties and injuries were successfully eliminated.