Authorities Prepare for Kelud Eruption: East Java

By Barrie | October 24th, 2007 | No Comments

Local authorities in several regencies around Mt. Kelud have increased efforts to prepare residents for an imminent volcanic eruption. Malang administration began distributing masks to residents of eight villages within the danger zone approximately ten kilometers from the peak. The villages are Baturetno, Pagersari, Sidodadi, Ngantru, Pandansari, Bayem, Pondok Agung and Sukosari as the article in the Jakarta Post explains.

The masks are expected to protect residents from volcanic ash in the aftermath of an eruption.

“We hope to complete the distribution process within the next few days. Hopefully by that time each of the 21,000 residents of those villages will have received a mask,” Malang regent Sujud Pribadi said Wednesday.

The administration has set up several emergency health posts, and 64 search and rescue personnel have been assigned to one of the villages.

According to residents, during the 1990 explosion of Mt. Kelud, five out of the eight villages suffered major damage.

“There were no human casualties, but volcanic ash destroyed hundreds of acres of crops,” a villager said.

Separately, the Indonesian Red Cross has established five refugee shelters in Kediri and more than 20 shelters in Blitar.

“Each shelter can accommodate up to 1,000 people,” Kediri Red Cross head Subagyo SW said.

“The largest shelter is in Siman village, with over 2,000 refugees,” he added, as quoted by Antara.

In Kediri, shelters have been built in Siman, Segaran, Tawang Wates, Kepung and Puncu villages.

Meanwhile in Blitar, shelters have been made in the districts of Nglegok (four shelters), Garum (six shelters), and Gandusari (ten shelters). These shelters can accommodate up to 17,000 people.

“The shelters are ready but most residents have not left their villages,” head of Blitar Red Cross, Bambang Wahyudianto, said.

In Sumber Asri village the Blitar Health Agency and Brawijaya University volunteer corps have established a field hospital that can treat up to 60 patients.

“A mobile clinic with three physicians from Brawijaya University is currently conducting a mobile health service for the villages,” he added.

So far, the local Red Cross has distributed 15,000 masks. It still has an active stock of 50,000 masks.

“We have also deployed two tanker trucks to provide clean water to refugees. Each truck can carry 5,000 liters,” he said.

Despite all the preparations, health problems have already begun to creep into the refugee center. At least 955 refugees have fallen sick in the last five days. Thirteen of them were in a serious condition and were rushed to a nearby hospital.

“They needed intensive medical treatment,” head of Kediri Health Agency, Suliani Suwadji, said.

“Respiratory infections are on the top of the list, claiming 364 refugees,” she added.

She said health problems were generally triggered by the refugee’s emotional and psychological distress.