West Sumatra's Cold Lava Disaster Victims Increase By 58 People, Studies Still Ongoing

Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto at the Tanah Datar lava flood site, West Sumatra, on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 (doc PNPB)

BUKITTINGGI- The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that the number of victims of the Mount Marapi lava flood that hit five districts/cities in West Sumatra (West Sumatra) had increased by eight people, bringing the total to 58 victims, on Wednesday 15 May.

"This is based on data reported to the BNPB Control and Operations Center today," said BNPB Deputy for Emergency Management Fajar Setyawan when met in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, quoted from ANTARA, Wednesday, May 15.

Meanwhile, he explained, the number of missing victims had increased again from 27 to 35 people, all of whom were still in the search process. In addition, 1,543 families were affected and 33 people were injured.

The victims were confirmed to have come from five affected districts/cities, namely Agam Regency, Tanah Datar, Padang Pariaman, Padang City, and Padang Panjang.

"The number of possibilities have changed again because BNPB, along with a joint team including BPBD in West Sumatra, is still carrying out studies and carrying out the search process, evacuating victims," he said.

Apart from that, Fajar ensured that all basic and supporting needs would soon be distributed either by land or by helicopter, because the safety of disaster victims was prioritized.

"In order to support the smooth operation of emergency handling and referral reports from the BMKG, there is the potential for moderate to moderate rain in the next few days, so today we are starting to carry out weather modification technology operations," he added.

The BNPB Pusdalops noted that a number of sub-districts in Agam Regency, Tanah Datar, Padang Panjang were hit by flash floods mixed with rain lava material on Saturday, May 11, after an assessment was carried out on Monday, May 13, it was known that a disaster had also hit Padang Pariaman Regency and Padang City.

The disaster was reported to have caused serious damage and had cut off the Padang-Agam-Tanah Datar-Bukittinggi-Solok transportation route so that an emergency response period was set for the next 14 days starting Monday, May 13.

A number of main posts for disaster emergency response were also established to accommodate logistics, and coordination centers, one of which was at the Tanah Datar Regent's Office.

The central government through BNPB with approval from Commission VIII of the DPR RI is ready to distribute support in the form of funding for disaster impact management operations from the allocation of Ready-to-Use Funds (DSP) totaling IDR 3.2 billion with a distribution of IDR 200 million - IDR 250 million each.

In addition, it provides logistical assistance in the form of dozens of refugee tents, family tents, hundreds of food packages, ready-to-eat food, hygiene kits, dozens of tarpaulins, blankets, mattresses, alkon pumps, light jendets, solar panels, portable toilets, tree saws, and cleaning equipment.