PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITIZED AMID MT AGUNG'S INCREASED VOLCANIC ACTIVITY by Fardah

 Jakarta, Sept 28, 2017 (Antara) - Mount Agung has been rumbling since August, with an increase in the magnitude of tremors, though the volcano has not erupted so far.

        The volcano is located on the resort island of Bali, but it is quite far from the island's main tourist destinations, such as Kuta Beach, which is some 75 kilometers away.

        Several key Balinese destinations, such as Tanah Lot, Uluwatu, Lake Beratan Bedugul, Tampak Siring Palace, Bali Safari and Marine Park, Garuda Wisnu Kencana, Sanur and Kuta beaches, Tanjung Benoa, Goa Gajah, and Nusa Penida, are quite far from the volcano and not affected by the increase in volcanic activity at Mount Agung.   
   Bali has set a target to attract 5.5 million foreign tourists this year.

        The number of foreign tourist arrivals in Bali from January to August 2017 had reached 3.99 million, an increase of 25 percent as compared to that recorded during the same period last year.

        According to data of the Bali statistics office, the resort island had received 4.92 million foreign tourists in 2016, an increase of 23.14 percent as compared to 4.001 million in 2015.

        In the wake of Mount Agung showing signs of increased volcanic activity, the Indonesian authorities have ensured that Bali remains safe for tourists, and its Ngurah Rai International Airport remains open and functions normally.

        Several ministers had visited Bali to monitor the disaster mitigation handling activities and to coordinate measures and preparations to be better prepared to face the worst in case the mountain erupts.

        On Sept 26, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had visited the Mt Agung refugees in Klungkung District, Bali, and urged them to abide by the instructions given by the officers following an increase in the mount's volcanic activities.

        "By doing this, we can minimize the impacts of Mount Agung's possible eruption," he noted.

        The alert status of Mount Gunung had been upgraded to the highest level on September 22, 2017, and the authorities have ordered people to stay at least 12 kilometers away from the crater.

        Records since 1800 reveal that Mount Agung had experienced four mega eruptions respectively in 1908, 1823, 1843, and 1963. More than one thousand people had died when Mount Agung last erupted in 1963.

        It is difficult to predict when the volcano will erupt.

        "We also cannot accurately predict when exactly and how large will be the intensity of the volcanic eruptions," the head of state remarked.

        Hence, Jokowi has affirmed that the central, provincial, and district governments will strive to minimize community losses as much as possible, including the stalled economy, as people have been displaced.

        "However, the most important priority is the safety of the people," he stated.

        According to data of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the total number of evacuees currently reached 75,673 people, including 19,456 inhabitants, who were in 162 locations in Klungkung District.

        On the occasion, Jokowi delivered logistics aid worth Rp7.2 billion to the evacuees residing in the emergency camps in several districts, including Klungkung and Karangasem.

        The logistics aid comprised 18,230 mattresses; 520 thousand masks; 12 tons of rice; two thousand baskets; two thousand bathing kits; and 1,100 baby kits, among other things.

        Earlier, the Social Affairs Ministry had distributed relief aid worth Rp4.8 billion comprising food supplies, tents, and emergency kits to the evacuees.

        The Karangasem district social agency had also delivered 50 tons of rice to the refugees in the three districts of Bangli, Buleleng, and Klungkung.

        As part of the precautionary measures against a possible eruption, the ministry has deployed some 619 officers in Bali and its neighboring province, West Nusa Tenggara.

        Apart from the ministry, the BNPB had earlier distributed some logistics support, such as 8,840 blankets; 12,520 mattresses; 640 thousand masks; 50 emergency tents; five units of iRADITIF Telehouse for the Early Warning System; and several communication tools.

        State-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura I stated on Tuesday that it had set up an emergency center at the Ngurah Rai Airbase, Bali Province, in order to ensure the safety of the passengers.

        If the volcano hurls ash, all flights en route to the Ngurah Rai Airport will be diverted to the neighboring airports, such as the Lombok International Airport in West Nusa Tenggara Province, Juanda Airport in East Java Province, and Adi Soemarmo Airport in Central Java Province.

        Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika had earlier affirmed that the government is prepared to face any eventualities in the face of the possible eruption of Mount Agung and has readied an evacuation post, refugee camp, and security measures.

        "We can report to the citizens of Bali and internationally that we are ready to face the worst, even though we pray that it would never happen," the governor added.

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(T.F001/A/BESSR/A. Abdussalam) 28-09-2017