Local governments have prepared to evacuate vulnerable groups from the threat of the eruption of Mount Merapi. At least 500 people in Magelang began to flee.
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KOMPAS TEAM
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Kompas/Ferganata Indra Riatmoko
Mount Merapi is visible from Glagaharjo Village, Cangkringan, Sleman, DI Yogyakarta, Thursday (5/11/2020) morning.
Local governments have prepared to evacuate vulnerable groups from the threat of the eruption of Mount Merapi. At least 500 people in Magelang began to flee.
MAGELANG, KOMPAS — At least 500 residents of the slopes of Mount Merapi in Magelang regency, Central Java, began to evacuate on Friday (6/11/2020). The main priority is vulnerable groups, such as pregnant and breast-feeding women, the elderly, children, people with disabilities, and those who are sick.
The Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Magelang recorded that residents who would evacuate would be those from Ngargomulyo, Krinjing and Paten villages in Dukun district. All of them are in the category of being very vulnerably affected by eruptions because they live within a 5 kilometer radius of the peak of Mount Merapi.
"They are independent evacuees. Without the need for us to pick them up, residents have come to the evacuation sites using private vehicles or vehicles provided by the village governments," said BPBD Magelang regency head Edy Susanto, Friday.
The evacuees from two hamlets in Paten village will be divided to two locations, namely Banyurojo village and Mertoyudan village. All of them are in Mertoyudan district.
The mapping of evacuation locations has been prepared. The evacuees from four hamlets in Ngargomulyo village will be temporarily accommodated in Tamanagung village, Muntilan district. The residents from three hamlets in Krinjing village will evacuate to Deyangan village, Mertoyudan district. The evacuees from two hamlets in Paten village will be divided to two locations, namely Banyurojo village and Mertoyudan village. All of them are in Mertoyudan district.
An assistant of the Government and People\'s Welfare Office of Magelang regency, Nanda Cahyadi Pribadi, said that 21 district heads had been asked to collect data on potential locations suitable for evacuation. "We have to prepare new evacuation locations," Nanda said.
The head of the Surveillance and Immunization Section of the Magelang Regency Health Office, Dwi Susetyo, said that since Thursday, his office had been checking the readiness of the evacuation sites. They had to get assurance that the locations are appropriate and equipped with health service posts.
Kompas/Ferganata Indra Riatmoko
Residents worked together to build tents to accommodate refugees at the Bronggang State Elementary School complex, Argomulyo Village, Cangkringan, Sleman, DI Yogyakarta, on Thursday (5/11/2020).
"Residents who are Covid-19 positive or are currently undergoing independent isolation will be immediately treated in the hospital and not allowed to stay in the evacuation centers," he said.
Emergency response
The Sleman Regency Government has established an emergency response status for the Mount Merapi disaster. This status facilitates unexpected budget spending of around Rp 30 billion in emergency matters.
Sleman Regent Sri Purnomo stipulated this status I Sleman Regent Decree No. 76/Kep.KDH/A/2020 concerning the Status of Mount Merapi Disaster Emergency Response in Sleman, Yogyakarta, Thursday (5/11). This decree responds to the status increase of Merapi from Waspada (the third-highest level) to Siaga or the second-highest level on Thursday. "We have to prepare the financing if there are those who have to be evacuated. Therefore, we set an emergency response status,” said Sri.
The budget will be used for various purposes for mitigating the Mount Merapi disaster, such as preparing evacuee camps and logistics.
Currently, the remainder of the unexpected budget is around Rp 30 billion. The budget will be used for various purposes for mitigating the Mount Merapi disaster, such as preparing evacuee camps and logistics.
Another follow-up is to close tourist destinations within a 5 kilometer (km) radius, such as the Kaliadem Bunker, Turgo Religious Tourism, Klangon Hill, and Mbah Maridjan historical site. Tourist jeeps may still operate outside the 5 km radius.
An evacuation camp for 400 people has been prepared next to the Glagaharjo village hall, Cangkringan district, Sleman. However, because of the obligation to obey the health protocols, the camp can only be filled with a maximum of 150 people.
Kompas/Ferganata Indra Riatmoko
Residents prepare lighting in front of the refugee shelter at SD Negeri Bronggang complex, Argomulyo Village, Cangkringan, Sleman, DI Yogyakarta, on Thursday (5/11/2020).
Three hamlets are classified to be in the potential danger due to the eruption of Mount Merapi in Cangkringan district, Sleman, namely Kalitengah Lor (Glagaharjo), Kaliadem (Kepuharjo), and Pelemsari (Umbulharjo).
Based on observations, the evacuation route for residents located in the northern area of Singlar hamlet, Glagaharjo, has been badly damaged. Gani Sadat, 29, a resident of Cangkringan, said the damage of the road reaches a segment of approximately 3 km. In fact, this is an evacuation route for at least 1,200 residents of Kalitengah Kidul, Kalitengah Lor, and Srunen hamlets.
"The risk of accidents is very high. We hope that this route will be repaired soon,” said Gani.
The head of the mitigation section of BPBD Sleman, Joko Lelono, promised to repair it next week. (NCA/HRS/EGI/RTG)
