President Jokowi Visits Areas Affected by Mt. Semeru Eruption
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Tuesday (12/07) inspected areas affected by Mount Semeru eruption and the impact management in Lumajang regency, East Java province.
The mountain, which is one of the country’s most active volcanoes and the tallest one in Java, spewed ash into the sky along with lava and pyroclastic flows down its slopes on Saturday (12/04).
During the visit, the President said he wanted to make sure that all resources have been mobilized to manage the disaster impacts.
“This morning, I came to the location to ensure that all resources we have are on the ground to search the victims and evacuate them, as well as [to ensure] evacuee management, and we inspect it for planning the rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged by Mount Semeru eruption,” he said in his press statement after the inspection.
During the inspection, the Head of State also visited an evacuation shelter located in Sumberwuluh village where he greeted evacuees and gave aids to relatives of the victims who died in the eruption.
The President also inspected soup kitchens and health care posts in the regency.
“At the evacuation shelter, I also wanted to make sure that matters related to evacuees are handled well, including those concerning food, health, and clean water. I suppose the situation is improving,” he said, adding that the Government will also prepare relocation of settlements impacted by the eruption.
“I was briefed that approximately 2,000 houses must be relocated. We will immediately decide the new location and build the houses at once because I think everything is ready,” he said.
In addition to settlements that were damaged following the eruption, the 192-meter long and 9.6-meter wide Besuk Kobokan Bridge (also known as Gladak Perak Bridge) located in Candipuro sub-district, which is part of the main road connecting Malang regency to Lumajang regency, also collapsed due to the eruption.
“We hope that after the situation improves, everything can begin, including infrastructure rehabilitation and the possible relocation from areas that we have estimated to be dangerous to be inhabited again,” he said, while expressing condolences on the death of the eruption victims.
“On behalf of the Government and all Indonesian people, I’d like to offer you my heartfelt condolences on the passing of the victims of Mount Semeru eruption in Lumajang regency, East Java province,” he remarked. (DND/UN) (DH/EP)