BNPB Will Blow Up Material Materials Remaining From Mount Marapi's Cold Lava Flood

One unit of vehicle was dragged by the cold lava flood that hit Agam Regency, West Sumatra on Saturday (11/5/2024) night/ANTARA/Muhammad Zulfikar)

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) in the near future plans to blow up a large rock (demolish) or remnants of Mount Marapi material after the cold lava flood that occurred on May 11, 2024.

"From air monitoring, there are still many large rocks in diameters of more than two meters weighing hundreds of kilograms, and scattered so that they must be detonated," said Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari in a written statement reported by ANTARA, Saturday, May 25.

Abdul Muhari conveyed that demolishing was needed so that if there was high-intensity rain in the upstream part of the river, then the rock material would not clog the flow of water. Based on the results of an air survey conducted by BNPB, it shows that there are still large rock points that have the potential to pose a threat to the community if not handled immediately.

He said one of the vulnerable points to be detonated was the 'tasangkuik rock' located in Sungai Pua District, Agam Regency.

Meanwhile, Agam Regency Regional Secretary Edi Busti said the local community agreed regarding the plan to detonate the large rock for the common good.

"The rock explosion left over from Mount Marapi material is planned to be carried out next week," he said.

BNPB together with the Agam Regency Government and the Tanah Datar Regency Government have surveyed a number of locations affected by cold lava floods through air monitoring.

For Tanah Datar Regency, an air survey was carried out in the upstream areas of Batang Bengkawas, Batang Malana, Batang Kadurang to Batang Siritrit on the slopes of Mount Marapi and Gunung Singalang. However, air monitoring using the helicopter has not succeeded in reaching the peak area of Mount Marapi due to unfavorable weather conditions.

Meanwhile in Agam Regency, the observation team monitored the source of the flash flood which started from upstream to downstream to disaster-affected locations. The locations surveyed were Batang Katiak, Batang Kepala Koto in the Mount Marapi area, and one point in the Singgalang Mountain area, namely Batang Galodo.