Jokowi Gives 2 Days Pertamina-Pemrov DKI Decide On Relocation Of Plumpang Depots Or Residents' Settlements

President Joko Widodo and PJ Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi in the evacuation site of residents affected by the fire Depo Plumpang Jakut. (Diah-VOI)

President Joko Widodo said there must be a relocation that separates Pertamina Plumpang Depot from residential areas in South Rawabadak, North Jakarta.

Jokowi ordered Pertamina and the DKI Provincial Government to decide to relocate one of the two options between moving the Pertamina depot or residents' houses from the location of the former depot fire that spread to the settlement.

This was revealed by Jokowi after reviewing the evacuation conditions for the Pertamina Plumpang Depot fire victims at RPTRA Rasela with SOE Minister Erick Thohir and Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, and Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto.

"I have ordered the Minister of SOEs and also the Governor of DKI (Heru Budi Hartono) to immediately find a solution to the incident that occurred in Plumpang. Especially because this is a dangerous zone. It can no longer be lived in, but there must be a solution," said Jokowi, Sunday, March 5.

Jokowi targets the decision to relocate the Pertamina depot or residential areas in the next two days. According to Jokowi, the Pertamina Plumpang depot can be moved to a reclamation island that has not been inhabited by residents. This is because such buildings must have buffer zones such as river areas or uninhabited land that surround vital objects.

Meanwhile, if the settlements are relocated, Jokowi ordered the DKI Provincial Government to look for other areas that could become residents' residences.

"It could be that the Plumpang (depo) has been shifted to a reclamation or the population has been shifted to relocation," said the former governor of DKI Jakarta.

"This is what will be discussed later. There are options, there are options. Are the depots being shifted, are the people being shifted. If the land is shifted where it is. However, a solution must be found immediately," he continued.

Furthermore, Jokowi also ordered the DKI Provincial Government to ensure that assistance to fire victims was distributed thoroughly. In addition, he also instructed the Ministry of SOEs to conduct audits of vital objects to prevent fire incidents from happening again.

For information, the fire at Pertamina Plumpang Depot hit on Friday, March 3 at 20.11 WIB. The Pertamina gasoline pipe fire spread to a residence in Rawabadak Selatan Village, Koja District, North Jakarta.

The fire was only extinguished on Saturday, March 4 at 02.19 WIB. As a result of this incident, 16 residents died. Then, 37 people are still receiving treatment in a number of hospitals.

As of Sunday, March 5 at 06.00 WIB, there were still 371 people displaced at the North Jakarta PMI Office and RPTRA Rasella. Some of the other refugees have returned to their respective homes.

Until now, the exact cause of the pipe leak that resulted in the explosion is not yet known. The nominal loss is still calculated.