KPU Reveals 543 West Sumatra Pilkada Voters Are In The Mount Marapi Eruption Zone

Illustration. Mount Marapi emits volcanic ash visible from Nagari Bukik Batabuah, Agam, West Sumatra, Monday, January 8, 2024 night. (ANTARA PHOTO-Iggoy el Fitra)

The General Election Commission (KPU) of West Sumatra Province (West Sumatra) revealed that as many as 543 voters in three polling stations (TPS) were in the eruption zone of Mount Marapi, Agam Regency.

"We have collected data from friends from the Agam Regency KPU, there are three butts which are within a radius of 4.5 kilometers from the eruption center of Mount Marapi," said West Sumatra KPU Commissioner Jons Manedi in Padang, Friday, November 15, confiscated by Antara.

The third TTS is TPS 1 with 234 voters, TPS 2 with 160 voters and TPS 3 with 149 voters. As a mitigation measure, the KPU will move the tap to a safer location or six kilometers from the eruption center.

In addition, the KPU also recorded that there are three sub-districts that have the potential to be affected by eruptions and cold lava threats. The areas are Pariangan District, Lima Kaum District and Sungai Tarab District. In Pariangan District, there are 1,802 voters around the Marapi lava flow.

Furthermore, in Lima Kaum District, there are 3,708 prospective voters spread across two villages or villages, which have the potential to be affected by the volcanic eruption of 2,891 meters above sea level (MDPL). The details are 1,952 prospective voters in Nagari Parambahan and 1,756 voters in Nagari Labuah.

Finally, in Sungai Tarab District, there are 1,051 prospective voters from three butts who also have the potential to be affected by the eruption of Mount Marapi. If an eruption occurs, officers will move the location of the voting to a resident's house in Jorong Ateh Bukik.

"If the activity of Mount Marapi continues to increase, we will move it to the nearest location or the safest," he said.

Additional information, referring to data from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) Gunung Marapi in Agam Regency and Tanah Datar Regency, has risen from alert status to alert on November 6, 2024. At the same time, the agency issued a number of recommendations.

These recommendations include prohibiting the public, climbers or visitors from entering and carrying out activities within a radius of 4.5 kilometers from the eruption center (Verbeek Luxury). In addition, residents who live around the valley, rivers and riverbanks that originate at the top of Mount Marapi are asked to always be aware of the potential or threat of rain lava hazards that can occur, especially during the rainy season.