BNPB: The Residual Rock Explosives Of Marapi Lava Floods Are Safe

The big rock strike that was carried away from the mountain slope by the swift cold lava flood of Mount Marapi that hit Bukik Batabuah Village, Canduang, Agam, Thursday (16/5/2024). BETWEEN/M Riezko Bima Elko Prasetyo

The leadership of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) ensures that the activity of detonating large rocks of material left over from the cold lava flood of Mount Marapi, West Sumatra does not harm the community and the environment so that it is safe to do.

"Yes, because the explosion scale is not that large and there is a technical mechanism from the experts," said Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari as reported by ANTARA, Monday, May 27.

He explained, technically only large diameter rocks, about 2-4 meters or half a truck left around the river in a precarious position that was targeted by a team of experts in the activity.

Furthermore, the material rocks left over from the flood on May 11, 2024, were perforated by drilling by a team of experts and then explosives were inserted.

"The pieces of rock will be collected to be cleaned from around the river," he said.

BNPB assesses that this demolish or rock explosion is necessary so that if there is high-intensity rain in the upstream part of the river, rock material does not become a threat to the community.

Abdul said that the rock explosion effort began on Tuesday (28/5) and was estimated to be completed in the next 2-3 days.

Previously, the large rock explosion was carried out in Batu Tasangkuik in the Sungai Pua sub-district, Agam Regency, and other areas in Tanah Datar Regency which were affected by the floods in early May.