Mount Semeru Erupsi, Megawati Instructions PDIP Use To Help Affected Victims

PDI-P General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri. (Dok PDIP)

PDI-P General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri instructed the PDIP Disaster Management Agency (Baguna) to go to the field to help people affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru in East Java.

This was conveyed by the Secretary General of the PDI-P DPP Hasto Kristiyanto after receiving a phone call from Megawati.

"In fact, Megawati called me earlier. Finally, I immediately called Mrs. Megawati and explained that she had just finished following the agenda in Yogyakarta," said Hasto in his statement, Sunday, December 4, quoted from Antara.

Hasto received a call when he was attending the Jujitsu National Championship (Kejurnas) in Yogyakarta, Sunday, December 4.

Hasto said that Megawati immediately gave directions to party officials to immediately help residents affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru.

"Mrs. Megawati advised that it should be prepared and mobilized by the East Java PDI-P Disaster Management Agency (Baguna) and to specifically provide assistance for needs for mothers and children, as well as food for toddlers. Emergency response, quick reaction, and on target; that's what Mrs. Mega always orders when there is news of a disaster," he said.

He immediately instructed the Deputy Secretary General of the DPP PDIP Sadarestuwati and Arif Wibowo and members of the DPR who were around Mount Semeru, such as Sonny Danaparamita, administrators of the East Java PDIP DPD, and Banyuwangi Regent Ipuk Fiestiandani, to immediately move to carry out Megawati's orders.

"Mrs. Megawati is always detailed every time she gives directions. The PDI-P uses come down, assisting emergency response actions to the Semeru eruption," he added.

Mount Semeru in Lumajang Regency and Malang Regency, East Java, emitted hot clouds of avalanches on Sunday since 02.46 WIB for seven kilometers.

Head of the Emergency Division of the Lumajang Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Joko Sambang said his party was on standby at the monitoring post.

"We are already at the monitoring post. Hot clouds of avalanches are currently still ongoing with a distance of 5-7 kilometers. Our monitoring post is approximately 12 kilometers from the summit," said Joko Sambang in a written statement received in Jakarta, Sunday.

Based on field observations with the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) team, volcanic ash seems to soar upwards and tends to head south. In anticipation of the risk of volcanic ash, the Lumajang Regency BPBD team distributed masks for free to the local community.