76 Families Have Not Been Allowed To Go Home, Even Though The Activities Of Mount Karangetang Sultra Have Decreased

A number of residents of Tatahadeng and Tarorane Villages, East Siau District, Sitaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi Province, are still displaced (ANTARA)

The Regional Disaster Management Agency has not allowed residents who have fled home even though the activities of Mount Karangetang in the Siau Islands Regency, Tagulandang Biaro (Sitaro), North Sulawesi Province, have decreased according to volcanic observations.

Head of the Emergency and Logistics Division of the Sitaro Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Sonny Belseran quoted the head of the Karangetang Yudia Volcano Observation Post as saying that the activities of Mount Karangetang in recent days have begun to decline.

"Indeed, Pak Yudia's answer is that his activities are starting to decline, but to determine whether residents who have been evacuated can return home, they still have to wait for an answer from Bandung (Geological Agency)," said Sonny, Tuesday, August 15.

He conveyed that BPBD continues to coordinate with the Karangetang Volcano Observation Post regarding the handling of residents of Tatahadeng and Taroane Villages in East Siau District who have fled to avoid the impact of the volcanic activity of Mount Karangetang.

According to him, until now the displaced residents have not been allowed to return to their homes because the activities of Mount Karangetang are feared to increase again so that residents who have returned home must return to the evacuation as some time ago.

Sonny appealed to residents who were still evacuating to wait patiently for directions from the government.

"The results will definitely be conveyed, stay patient. We continue to ensure logistical availability for residents who are currently still in refugee camps," he said.

Until now 39 families from Tatahadeng Village and Taroane Village are still living in refugee camps.

There are 17 refugees from Tatahadeng Village and consisting of nine elderly residents (elderly), 24 adults, 13 children, and three toddlers. They took refuge in the GMIST Tualage Church, Ruata Wena.

Residents from Mangaese Hamlet, Taroane Village, are also still in refugee camps.

A total of 22 families from Mangaese Hamlet consisting of seven elderly people, 37 adults, nine children, and two toddlers displaced the GMIST Bukit Zaitun Tabungan Church.